The Bay of Plenty Bearcon PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1942. AMAZING CONFIDENCE OR DESPERATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 10, 30 January 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Bearcon PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1942. AMAZING CONFIDENCE OR DESPERATION

DOES Japan by stringing' out her supply lines on six different fronts each thousands of miles way from the home base, expect to carry out complete conquest of China, America and the British possessions in the Pacific? If so it would seem that ambition has either blinded her to possibilities or else that desperation has -goaded her to make a final throw backed by all the power at her disposal in the vain hope that German and Italian pressure in Europe would enable her to snatch up the Pacific plums without undue effort. The lesson of the: Malacca Straits must, in that case be a bitter one. No longer, she realises will it be possible to transfer thousands of men across oceans without protection. The element of surprise upon which she has traded so successfully for the past month is gone, and the assurance of that fact is illustrated by the 15,000 men lost, and the good, ships which have been sent to the bottom.

fronts are narrowed down is recognised by all who know the Japanese mind, we are dealing with a nation which has never sued for peace in its proud< arrogant history. As a race the Japanese consider themselves definitely superior to the rest of humanity, whose privilege it is, they claim to be governed by and subjected to the chosen people of the Rising Sun. Their fight to preserve, and maintain these extravagant ideas therefore will last just as long as Japanese nature remains unchanged and that of course can only be brought about suffering, whim Japan herself has been all

too fond of hancling out to her less fortunate neighbours.

RISING TEMPER

SO many anomalies exist in the petrol rationing that recent articles and correspondence in this paper have aroused a storm of criticism and anger at the unfairness of the present method of licensing. The average person is endeavouring to abide by the restrictions and to honestly assist forward the conservation of petrol, but the sight of ethers who apparently have benzine to burn,, and who parac\e their good fortune flagrantly before the public has a most aggravating effect. Dozens of calls to this office have convinced us that the temper of the people is rising daily and unless something is done to bring about a fairer allocation there is likely to be trouble. There is of course, the difficulty of sorting the sheep from the goats but broadly speaking the public seems to be fully conversant with the most flagrant cases are is not blaming those who have legitimate claims for restricted use of car or lorry. There is again the possibility of motorists lucky enough to be still drawing from their own 'nest egg,' which it is common knowledge, most drivers with a little foresight made provision for during the rationing days* Or again a home-made compound may enable others to keep the: road. Both legitimate'" excuses in themselves, but it ill becomes such owners to blatantly drive about under the very noses of others whose movements are restricted. The real culprits are those won by bluff, so-called* shrewdness or straightout lies have obtained this advantage over their fellows and openly parade it.

Matahi Road, Waimana Messrs C. Arohana, N. Takao, Mi. Rua, H. Tori, J. Terue, D. Mahia, M. Hori, P. Rakuraku, Chris Wharepapa, T. Biddle, Tioke, Pinepine Te liiwa, Te Uaua, T. Tioke, Presbyterian Maori Mission, J. G. Laughton Superintendent, Bell and Hodgson, Scottey Ogelvy, Paul Ugawaka, M. Onekawa, Dice Takao, Mrs Joe Biddle, W. H. Hughes, Hillman Rua, H. Rua, Hori Eke wrote to this week's meeting of the County Council all promising to pay the sum of i-5 each, to be used to obtain the loan of the Council Caterpillar to fix the Matahi Road. The Works Committee is to inspect the road. »|

With .the same naval and air strength in the Indies the growing threat to Australian shores becomes more and more remote, and alternatively Japan's task becomes more and more difficult. The battle, for its scope and duration lifts it well above the status of a mere raid, has had a stimulating effect upon the countries of the South Pacific and, represents the first serious setback to the plans for Japanese supremacy. On the other fronts fortune continues to favour Nipponese arms but Malacca is but a foietaste. of -what the Allies now have in store for every convoy which is fitted out to prevision, reinforce or re-arm the armies of the Phillipines, Malaya, Burma, Batavia and New Guinea. The growing strength of the Allies in all these waters should make it clear to Japan that -hereafter every ship fitted to traverse the long network of supply lines must run the gauntlet of belligerent under-water and surface craft, plus the threat from the air from neighbouring- bases. " The position locks precarious and forbidding, and each day makes the prospect blacker for the nation with the single source of supply. With the growth of Allied strength in all these waters the amazing confidence of the Japanese High. Command must evaporate and a war of desperation take its place. That it will be a long and bitter struggle, once the

Tyre Problem Acting, apparently, out of the fact that the Government has introduced regulations controlling the supply of tyres, a doubt exists in the minds of some motorists in regard to their right to have their tyres retreaded, states the Otago Daily Times. The provisions of the new regulations do not affect the re-treading of tyres In any particular, and noi order is required from the transport officer by anyone requiring to have his tyres retreaded or repaired. The district transport officer advises, however, that a reseller selling retreaded tyres is required to obtain approval.