ROUND ABOUT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 269, 10 February 1941, Page 5

ROUND ABOUT

Just because the blooming Post Office has sold out of stamps. Here is a chap full of good intentions, memory functioning well and everything, dives his hand into his packet to find a cigarette and brings forth that letter his wife had given him the same day (mark you, the same day) to post. Of course he remembered that he had it to post— well anyhow after he found it he remembered. So off he trots to the P.O. only to find both stamp machines registering empty an?l tile office closed. It was late and shops were shut so his good intentions were ruined—he couldn't get a stamp. Gone were his visions of being *eble to on going home to chirp triumphantly, "Well, your letter is posted." And who's silly enough to think that when he said there were no stamps such an excuse would be accepted. It about unlikely to be believed as the reveller who said he didn't return home one night because when he tried the front door someone had stolen the keyhole. The Post Office should give better service—think of the ghastiy chaos being created in the family life of the Dominion through some official's laxity.

I suppose you readers have noticed it —well anyhow I have. Its been rankling me fof a long time, me being a chap fond of children and careful of theiirwelfare. I've written leaders about it, but you can guess just why they, were never published. Well, now I've had a ietter from "Mother of Twelve" and also "Fond Parent" and I'm going to definitely" do something this time. T think I can slip the dope to Sam on the quiet. What I am all perturbed about is tliis bird Peter the Whaler. Here he is again bragging about being at Vancouver for Christmas taking all the kids of the town with him. What of the fuel restrictions— hasn't "lie any patriotism, going wasting fuel at a time like this. What's more think of the raiders he might meet and half those youngsters can't swim on account of the Ohope baths not having been buili!

(yet). They tell me that all tie knows about a. boat is what lie learnt as a child playing with a toy one in the bath anyhow. I think he's" a cad don't you, running these risks. Then again he's got that beastly goat with him—the one-he pinched from the Borough Council (and aren't they annoyed—you should hear the Mayor get mad when this Whaler bird won't give it back). Yes he takes this thing on the boat with all the children—as if they can't find plenty of goats at home.

I think it Is time the people rose up in force and appealed to> the Fuel Controller about this—aiul when I told Peter the other day he pointed out that the Vesper was allowed to run so why shouldn't he.

Well that's different —the Vesper is an absolute necessity—it brings the beer down from Auckland. If yon read his last letter you will also find how he moans about poverty—cries about being hard-up—yet he is dashing off now from Vancouver to Alaska and has bought all the kids new furs. I'll write to the Prime Minister to-night and sic him on to the Fuel Controller, and also ask him just why he lets Peter take so much money out of the country to buy furs witli when our troops can't get any coin from home. Its class distinction—that's what it is.

Anyhow, its extravagant going t<* Alaska and what's more it's cold there. Then again it was only this week that I read the Russians are going to attack America through the Yukon.

No, it's no good and Avill have to put a stop to it. On second thoughts I'll write to the Director of Publicity—lie's a cobber of mine and writes to me every week. He'll fix him. Taking the poor little kids out in the snow—the thoughtless cad. • m m m Well our lads will now be at tlic Government's country rest home at the foot of Ruapehu—Waiouru. In other words the Mounteds are in camp and we wonder whether they arrived as per invoice, intact and in as high spirits as they left. It is doubtful if many of them will enjoy the climate after Whakatane —Waiouru is a very dry area with tlie nearest 1 oasis at Taihape some 20 miles away. * Twenty miles is, after all, a long wa»v —even to ride a horse providing of course one can ride a horse. Personally I think such animals dangerous at berth ends and very u*n?comfortable in the middle. I usually try to get friendly with the animal though—in fact meet it half \yay —• its usually coming up wlien I'm going down. Some of the chaps wha left here confided that they could not ride—one Trooper saying in a loav confidential tone, "I say, they tell me we are to have horses' —yoit know those things that have a le£ on each corner and provide bookmakers with a living". He did not seem to be relishing the idea of rid-

mg a liorse —up till now all he knows about horses is that the one he hacks is slower than the rest. However, he was cheered when we told him to apply -for a Job in the laundry and look after the clothes horse. However, the boys might get ac-> customed to Waiouru and can always remembe*' to think gratefully of those carpenters who rushed the work of bir'lding the eamra for them —■well, so long as they don't think of the 12 ami more pounds a week 'the carpenters were paid in comoarVson with their 7 bob a day. Of course they will remember that carivmilcs are scarce —and ,piN|?sably after one dav aboard a horse wITT wish that they too were able : to make themseVes scarce.

•Tt's not cricket- definitely.. not.r Just imagine the injustice 6f_ . it«. (Continued foot of previous column*