The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays 2nd Fridays. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, 1939. CO-OPERATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 89, 17 November 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays 2nd Fridays. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, 1939. CO-OPERATION

IT would appear that the old adage "a house divided against itself cannot stand" holds as good today as ever it did. It can be applied not merely to the family but to a centre, a district, a community. The true essence of co-operation is needed to obtain the maximum benefit and return. In view of the foregoing- it is hard to understand the action of many of the citizens of Whakatane, who habitually send their trade out of the town which has for years kept them in comfort, afforded them a home and enabled them to enjoy a freedom and citizenship which is second to none. But the fact remains the practice is a deep-rooted one which can be applied to many of the businessmen themselves. For some reason the facilities, under their noses, created by the iniiative of their frtiends and neighbours, are passed by for the favour of distant hills, which as everybody knows, look greener and fresher than those at hand. Thus year after year, hundreds of pounds which should belong to Whakatane, by way of healthy circulation are sent to swell the returns of bigger and more substantial firms in the larger centres, Now the question arises, what return does the local purchaser receive for this habit of long distance buying. The firm concerned, has usually not one tittle of interest in VvTiakatane, not the slightest care whether the broad fertile acres that compose the Rangitaiki, fall into hopeless bankruptcy. If the two were wiped off the map, the metropolitan businesses, would carry on just the same, the loss in trade would be infinitismal. But what of the local businessman? He is a ratepayer, and primarily has a first-line stake in the town. He occupies premises which g-o to make the town a centre and a trading point; he is a citizen with a home and possibly a family. Thus he becomes an integral part of the community, and a community depends solely on the goodwill, of one person dealing in all • fairness with the other. This is a fundamental law and the progress and general appearance of a town, demonstrates only too well the extent of the co-operation existing .between one unit and the other. If the reciprocal trade is weak, the: town reflects it in its backwardness and complete indifference to the march of time. If on the other hand it is strong and sound, then there is every /indication of vigour and prosperity. The BEACON has laid down as the first plank in its policy and fostering of loyalty and public spiritedness. It is with the warmest gratitude we recall the messages of appreciation and goodwill received from our subscribers when the first issue went upon its experimental way. There are however instances where the simple laws of mutual living to the best advantage are transgressed daily. If a local paper remains the champion of the community it seeks to serve then surely it deserves consideration. The law of co-oper-ation applies, yet daily there is a steady stream of printingorders leaving the town for execution by firms hundreds of miles away. Today as a firm, the BEACON is equipped as never before with all the latest in printing appliances, and type ranges. Confidence in the town and its future enabled this to be done- The possibility of a news-organ being able to render service is governed entirely by the strength and support accorded it by the community it is striving to be of service to. With all due deference we therefore suggest that the local printing firm be given at least the chance to quote in printed orders, which in the past have without hesitation or question been delegated to distant metropolitan printeries.