WHAKATANE LEADS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 272, 17 February 1941, Page 5

WHAKATANE LEADS

NATIONAL SAVINGS SCHEME EXCELLENT LOCAL RESPONSE' In a fortnight Whakaitane has risen from the bottom of the

list to the top position in tlie National Savings competition, a fact of which xesidents of town and district can well be proud. To mark this excellent response to the appeal for National Savings the flag denoting that the district leads in the percentage of people to join the scheme is flying at the local Post Office.

This flag is a means of creating friendly competition betAveen towns in the Thames Valley Postal district, at the official counting time by headquarters the district which leads on a percentage basis of estimated population contributing being given the honour of flying the banner. If Whakatane still leads when the next official count is made then it retains the trophy, while, if another centre has forged ahead, then the honour is theirs.

Since the appeal was first made to the public Thames has been, in the lead with 10.3 per cent of the population boing contributors to the scheme* and by establishing a percentage of 13.3 Whakatane took the lead. Congratulations from headquarters were extended to Mr L. E. Norriss, supervisor at the local Post Oifice in whose charge: the organisation of the scheme has been. Ready Response. Mr Norriss spent some time contacting various firms and individuals and, explaining" the Savings movement, was very successful. He states that he did not have to make a very strenuous effort, finding that on visiting the people and explaining the scheme over 90 per cernt were, very willing to give support. Many groups of savers have been formed where, with the co-operation of their employers, staff members have joined together in contributing a part of their wages each week.

The fact that the organisation commenced in this town not more than three weeks ago speaks well for the efforts of Mr Norriss and the patriotic spirit of the people.