TEN YEARS AFTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 275, 24 February 1941, Page 5

TEN YEARS AFTER

WHAKATANE'S NEW BUILDINGS (By (). Hope) One thing 1 noticed in the town of Whakatane was that the old wooden churches which were there in 1921 and 1941 had been replaced by line big churches in reinforced concrete and stained glass. "Yes, these new churches do give a distinctive note to our town," sasid my guide. "They seem to tower above the thousands of singlestorey dwellings of our residential area. People coming here for the first time cannot but be impressed with the size and magnificence of the church building of Whakatane." I could not help remarking Hint this seemed a sign of progress onwards and upwards. When I was here in 1941 all the proud citizens had pointed out to me the two modern style public houses which Ave re then the largest buildings in Whakatane. It used to be a standing joke in these days that Whakatane was noted for the large size of its hotels and the smallness of its churches. But noAV, in 1951 the churches do stand out, as is the case in the cathedral cities of the old Avorld.

"These churches are nonei too large for the congregations that attend," I was told. This appeared to be a direct result of the total prohibition of Sunday motoring Avhieh had been introduced in 1941 as a Avar measure to conserve petrol, but hcid been retained—like (i o'clock closing of hotels —because of its social ad\'antages. So the people of Whakatane Avho could not go joyriding in cars had more time to| Avalk to church. It Avas an interesting example of changing customs in a rapidly changing land. We seem to have completed, the cycle and got back to 1011 or 1921 Avhen joyriding in jars had not came into popularity, and when everyone, so it seemed, Avent to church or at least stayed home and had a day of rest. . New Town Hall.

Of course, the citizens of Wha<( katane are proud of their Town Hall building—a block of buildings in the modern style of architecture, whoire people can not only pay rates but also enjoy library and reading facilities equal to those of any city. The auditorium with a seating capacity of 2000 is in constant use for entertainments provided by the Municipal Band, the Miunicipal Symphony Orchestra,, and the various dramatic societies of the district. As my friend explained to me, nowhere more so than at Whakatane had there been evidence of the recent reaction against "canned music" and "film-fare" entertainment. If the decado before 3 941 could be called an era of listening in, the last 10 years have certainly seen a revival of the art of amateur theatricals. "Music for everyone and everyone a musician" is the ideal which in this year 1951 seems well on the way to becoming an accomplished fact. "Talking of music," I remarked, "I remember that in 1941 the Caledonian Society was talking about building its own hall. Did that ever come to pass?" "Why yes," replied my friend. "We now have a multiplicity ol halls, large., small and middle-sized, the Caledonian Society has a fine hall with all modern devices, including a sound-proof basement, which in the event of war would be useful as an air-raid shelter, but in these piping times of peace it is ideal as a practice room for our large pipe band." Naturally in such a thickly populated area as the borough of Whakatane it was desirable to make special sound-proof accommodation for "a hundred pipers and a' and a'." Indoor Recreation Facilities. I noticed with approval that the matter of physical welfare had not been neglected by Wliakatanc people since the Avar years. The municipal physical Avelfare centre is a large building covering seA T cral acres. There are halls for such popular indoor games as badminton, basketball and table tennis, and wellcquipped gymnasiums where the boys of the district receive instruction in boxing, wrestling and gymnasties. A tepid swimming bath was also part of this training centre.

"I suppose we must thank the

war for the increased interest in physical welfare," I remarked.

"Oh yes," I was told, "the calling up of all 'men during the war did show how large was the percentage of physically unfit. So now

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every town is vying with the others in providing such well-equipped physical welfare centres as this."

That New Post Office,

"You will observe," said my guide "that we have) an imposing and roomy post office, even if we did have to wait a long time for it." This was very true. The post office occupies about a couple of acres on Peace Avenue, and the block also houses other State departments. The post office clock tower is one of the landmarks of the new business area. One pleasing feature, I could see, was that one wing of the building was labelled Taxation Department. Here it was that all taxes were paid, leaving the Post Office proper free for stamp selling and savings bank business. I remembered bow the old Post Office in the Strand used to be crowded at times with citizens paying income, social security and motor taxes, while the person who merely wanted a penny stamp had to suffer in silence.

"I suppose your very! vigorous Chamber of Commerce claims ail the credit for getting such a fine Post Office and Tax Office," I remarked. "Yes, the Chamber kept on agitating and organising until it had the Government of the day educated up to the claims of Whakatane," replied my friend. "It was a wise move when the Government brought in the law of compulsory membership of Chambers of Commerce, and fines for business men who did nol attend meetings."