ROUND ABOUT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 244, 2 December 1940, Page 5

ROUND ABOUT

(By Aitcliel) *i Thoiigli tlic ilags rtfmain in the lockers and the salute of guns is not heard, to-day is an anniversary—it sees Round About No. 50 come off : [ the stocks. - . ' . ■ ] That fact perhaps constitutes sufficient justification for a brief review. 9 It lias been the policy to discuss current topics—and especially local ; topics—in this weekly column, and v - also to recount happenings of a na- ■ ture lighter than .the usual news -items. i Generally discussion on current affairs and-doings in the town lias .« been- Avell received, although there have been occasions when the comment made was not appreciated by those immediately concerned. That reception, it is supposed, was —tind will be—governed mainly by the' fact that those in the picture as a rule see only the one side and forget that the onlooker sees: most :of the game. It is in the role of onlooker that we comment. at . m m ■ '• '. [ y The Borough Home Guard Committee is deserving of the greatest commendation for its efforts over the last, ten days or so. -For months the citizens army scheme was' Clouded by a haze of doubt, "uncertainty and indecision. In ,fact the .Hottie Guard appeared to be a sop to .the public agitation for a greater defensive force and. the public's expressed. demand for an avenue , through which it could release its desire for active participation in the country's defence. .

In August we liad a visit from the associate-Minister for National Service but visit, far from rejuvenating 'the district's flagging enthusiasm, served. only to increase the vagueness \sUrrounding the scheme. Mr Sine! was responsible for the generating of the wide interest which is now evidenced, his visit stimulating into awakened keen ness the district's delay-caused apathetic mood.

When the borough co'mmittee held ' . its initial meeting about a fortnight ago the renewed interest was immediately harnessed and , the. result of, the week's campaigning for enrolments speaks for itself. The borough has a strong" company of, guardsmen to take its place in the " country's defence scheme and these men—the committee members in. particular—have earned the thanks of the community. The story is being told about a man who lost his way during - the black-out while 'he was walking through Hyde Park. He bumped j into another walker and, apologising, added, "Could you tell me where I'm' going?" "Certainly," came the. reply. "You're going right into,, the Ser- ' pentine. I've "just come out of it." .m'm ■ m ■ The suggestion that toAvn members of the Home Guard should assist farmers with their harvesting £ in lieu of route marches and man- • eouvres is a good one. It may b» that the exercise obtained .in the _ hay fields is not the perfect type but harvesting c§rtainly does provide exercise and in any case.it Ist . - the. benefit to the country supplied by the part relief of the farm labour problem that is the bigger bird to be killed by the one stone. When the Rangitiki was reported to have been attacked by a raider in the Atlantic, and no further news had been heard from her, the Maoris of Kotorua explained that since the ship was built it Avas apparent that she was doomed. It was„ explained that the carving of a Maori warrior. ' on the vessel constituted a hoodoo because the brave was looking upwards instead of at his adversary's - feet. . It was pointed out also that the same position obtained on the New Zealand shilling. What have the fates in store? ar * « » Things always go in threes for one Whakatane resident, who is identified by alliterative initials. His wife, in maiden status, also had three alliterative initials, M.M.M.