REASON TO BE PROUD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 293, 9 April 1941, Page 4

REASON TO BE PROUD

DID you know that this district of ours has three very excellent reasons to be extremely proud of its war effort. Pro rata it holds something approaching a Dominion record in (a) the number of fighting men it has furnished for overseas service, (b) the number of enlistments in the Home Guard, and (c) the number of accounts opened in the National War Savings Campaign. Here is a triple accomplishment which as records prove, Jbringsi W hakatane to the forefront for the remarkable manner its residents are answering the call to all free men. From town and district over 600 fighting men have offered their services. These brave lads are possibly to-day upholding the traditions of the first troops who went from these parts in the last war, and whether they fight in Greece, Yugoslavia or the arid Libyan, wastes, we know that we can rely on them to do their bit a,nd to do. it well. With regard to the Home Guard we learn with pleasure that in the No. 2A area (which leads New Zealand) Whakatane holds pride 01 place with no less than 1576 enlistments. Something of the spirit of the local Home Guard was to be seen at the recent parade at Edgecum.be and we regret the circumstances which made the district rally planned for Awakeri the following day, impossible. Whakatane also leads in the '1 names postal district with the highest percentage (on. a population basis) for the number of War Savings accounts opened. This appeal, and subsequent drive by an officer from the Post Off ice. has resulted in no lesis than 15.3 per cent of the population being listed as active contributors to the war loan. The method of arriving at this figure has been an assessment of four adults or eligible contributors living in each dwelling within the district. The guage is liberal and takes in. the whole of the postal area. It is well therefore to bear in mind the following figures : — Active service men 600 Home Guard 1576 War Savings 15.3 per cent While the above are only approximately the figures they will nevertheless serve to demonstrate the high position we enjoy among other centres, in connection with the Dominion's war effort. One thing more, in a recent statement published in a daily paper, it was claimed that farmers generally were lagging and not joining up with the Home Guard as they should. We are happy, in this district at least, to give such assertion 'the lie direct.' In practically all country a,reas in our vicinity the response has been almost one hundred per cent. Farmers in the Eastern Bay of Plenty today can justly tell the rest of their fellows that they at any rate have overcome the labour and equipment difficulties, and have made time to train and fit themselves for an emergency occasion, should ever such a thing occur, which God forbid.