The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 3rd, 1940. 1940

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 105, 3 January 1940, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 3rd, 1940. 1940

ON the threshold of the new year our thoughts turn naturally enough to the possibilities, the events, the dangers and the hopes that are stored in the days of the calender year spreading ahead. We are living in grave days—perhaps the most momentous ever known to mankind- With the whole world likely to burst into flames at almost a moment's notice, with the faith in our boasted civilisation rudely shaken by tlhie events of the past, and with our prided security in a monetary system and social fabric fluttering on the fragile wings of uncertainty we have real cause to ponder and ruminate upon the future. From our insignificant place in the arena of the world, our tiny community in the Bay of Plenty —a scrap of isolated Empire in the vast Pacific—watching with equal apprehension and forboding the march of events overseas. We share in a very real manner the dread of the whole world, which in fear and terrible haste has built up armaments and created destructive forces upon a scale hitherto unknown. The whole, carefully arranged and skilfully planned scheme represents a [superstructure of death which will mean the lives of millions unless the hand of hatred and war-mongering is withheld and the miracle for which we are long'ing takes place and saves the human race. It is not traditionally correct to take so mournful a view at the commencement of the year., but as our judgments are necessarily founded upon events of the immediate past we have no alternative other than to face the facts as we see them. The year of Grace 1939 brought fulfilment of the things which we feared and dreaded most. Spectators to the open violation of freedom-loving countries under the hypocritical pretext of bringing them greater security, the British peoples after exercising the .most amazing forbearance in their history were forced to take action. But the war to-day remains an enigma, shorn of the flagwaving, excitement and hysteria, it is notable for the serious, sorrowful note of a people who have no disillusions on 'glory' or 'blind patriotism.' The press (free and independent) the screen (uncontrolled) and the radio (without propaganda) have taught them realities, the grimness, suffering and sacrifice of war, all too recently to .be forgotten. But the greatest tragedy of all lies in the fact that the common people from whom will be drawn the fighting material for the armies of destruction are blameless on both sides, and fear the dread nightmare through which they must pass with equal intensity. It would be folly to suppose that the average German wanted war any more than the average Britisher. Both have been driven to the battle line by a set of separate circumstances which convinces each that they are right. Misunderstanding, deliberately planned, has created a false hatred between peoples, the vast majority of whom undoubtedly desire to live in neighbourly peace with each other were they left to pursue their own rightful occupations. Doubtless an Editor in Germany itself will be writing just such an article as this in reviewing the New Year, though naturally enough his assumption and declaration will be to blame the Allies for the precipation of hostilities. The pity of it is that there is no link between the common peoples which could safely Gompare ideas, sort out the lies from the true facts and remove the misunderstandings which make for war. What will happen in 1940, lies hidden in the days ahead, unguessed. unknown. If it be our destiny to undergo suffering we can as a people be depended on to do so without flinching; should we be expected to make sacrifices, that too we must and will do with courage and determination; are we to watch our ideals shattered, our sacred traditions, our civic institutions desecrated and violated we must do so without complaint or question. These are the extreme tests which will decide the fate of the nation, these are the ordeals which make for men and women better and worthier of the future. The spirit of the New Year is therefore not one to be guaged by the price of butterfat, the possibility of commercial restrictions or the introduction of conscription. Rather it is one of high hope, fearlejssness and courage in the face of the inescapable facts which portray before us the state of the world to-day.