The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, SEPT. 18th, 1939. OUR OWN HOUSE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 63, 18 September 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, SEPT. 18th, 1939. OUR OWN HOUSE

THESE are stressful times. There is widespread anxiety in God's own country, and few are the homes in which the European conflict is not regarded as a baleful and hopeless calamity. However the sun still shines and the bountiful promise of the New Zealand spring is apparent throughout the land. In the midst of all this rich promise of the future the call has gone abroad and the first six and a half thousand have responded within twenty-four hours. New Zealanders now feel the closeness of war in spite of the warm surjshme and the responsive green, pastures. But the show must go on, and the duty of every man, woman and child is to swiftly adjust themselves to the realities of the changed outlook. It is high time to set our own house in order and after a rapid stocktaking directed our efforts towards those things which make for the common good of all. Naturally there will be a constant chain of thought for the new Silent Division which is being formed, but people must, live, and the normal channels of business must be maintained. In spite of the war our everyday life will be altered but litUle, and 1 it is our privilege and good fortune that our routine continues peacefully and undisturbed. The reactions , following the first shock of war have naturally enough awakened a feeling of apprehension. People are more canny, spending is restricted/ business is disturbed. This must be conquered at all costs. There is real work to be done. There are burdens to be undertaken. We cannot shoulder them in a, state of economic exhaustion. It is imperative that our normal mode of living be restored as quickly as possible. There are pressing local questions to be settled; there are much needed 1 improvements to be followed up and completed. The Government has given a good lead by announcing that the Centennial celebrations: will be continued, and observed 1 in the manner planned two years ago. The Bay of Plenty has its own share in the Dominion's anniversary and it is hoped that everything possible will be done to make it a truly memorable contribution to the great event. Unfortunately it became impossible to continue with the Queen Carnival, but the question will be reviewed next month and it is hoped that the organisation which was doing so well in the public weal will be preserved for other purposes where the raising of money is required. Whakatane has shown remarkable progress, during the past twenty. years. .It will '•continue to do so just as 'long as it remains the trading point to the broad fertile acres of the Hangitaiki Plains. Whether it be peace and plenty or war and worry, our role is set and as a progressive, vigorous and prosperous centre 'the play must go on' and confidence and normality restored.