The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1942. FAMILY ALLOWANCES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 35, 30 March 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1942. FAMILY ALLOWANCES

BONDS FOR BOMBERS

WAR-TIME LOCAL BODIES

No Time For Cards A New Zealand airman, who has been a prisoner of war in Germany for two years, in a letter written in October and received in Christchurch last week, stated that a Red Cross parcel was received every week. He was then in prison camp Oflag 68, where, he stated, there was no opportunity for tennis, but they were playing Rugby and getting ready for the winter seaso<n. Full study courses had been arranged, and there was no time to play cards.

DANIEL Defoe rode from Blackstone E'cV?'e to Halifax and wrote placidly in his; journal "within the houses we saw women and children carding and spinning, all employed from the youngest to the oldest, scarce anything above the age of four years old but its hands were sufficient for its own support.'' Later generations found something wrong with this peaceful domestic picture, and after the. usual delays Parliament decided to release children from the duty of earning their own porridge. Factory and educational laws were planned to usher in a new golden age in which the citizens of the future, reaching a full stature of mind and body, would be ready to build a highly creditable world. Unfortunatey there was something wrong with this picture too. As so often happens with our piecemeal legislation,, the roundabouts had spoiled the market for the swings. The children, though probably grateful for the benign care which had shut the factory d.oors in their faces and freed them for ever from one sort of misery, had the impertinence to go on being hungry; their own industry could no longer earn their fill—they had to depend on something or somebody else. A strong bias, amounting to a, tradition, has always existed in favour of leaving this nutritive task to the father. There is nothing wrong with the principle, which indeed is a fundamental principle of nature. Parents should nourish their children! well and good. But in nature the business of feeding the young is merely one of the timeconsuming jobs of the breeding season. Lions prowl, foxes steal and sparrows diligently hop about to keep their broods on an adequate diet. The food, is there; they can take what they need- Such a universal dinner-table has nevei been, spread for man. Even John Stuart Mill thought in terms of finality when he pointed out that though it was only right that everyone should have a share in the banquet, there; was a certain difficulty in allowing each to invite as many guests as he pleased. That difficulty is still before us and has never been overcome to this d,ay. If we admit that everyone has a right to a share in the banquet we must also admit that the children are not guests; but rather that they are legitimate members of the human family fully entitled to their place and vital to the race. Thus we are faced with the responsibility of maintaining, educating and rearing the children who go to make up our communities and the family allowances wisely bequeathed by the State are made to offset the strain upon the individual group which has grown beyond the earning power of the parents. Responsibility of providing a home is assisted by virtue of a State grant which is given from the surplus earned by others with less upon their shoulders.

DID you know that Whakatane last week subscribed approximately £2000 towards the 'Bonds for Bombers' campaign? By Friday evening £1733 had been subscribed,, made up as under: Monday £8, Tuesday £225, Wednesday £400, Thursday £498, Friday £602. Up to the time of enquiry well ever £200 had been taken on Saturday morning, and it is anticipated therefore that the town will easily reach the two thousand mark. In the country districts, especially Taneatua the results have been highly satisfactory. By Wednesday last Taneatua had; found £335, a further splendid effort consistent with the response in that district to the Patriotic Fund Appeal. The Post Office announces that the campaign has been extended till next Thursday, when the final figures will be announced for all individual districts.

THE growing burden of war legislation which has been shouldered on to local bodies throughout this Dominion should be more recognised by the man-in-the-street. We wonder how many of our readers realise the work entailed by Patriotic, E.P.S., and other organised efforts which have been placed in the hands of our County and Borough Councils. It must be remembered that these bodies are also experiencing the staff shortage problems along with all other firms and yet they are expected to fulfil their normal peace' time obligations: and carry a great national responsibility at the same time. Those who may feel inclined to criticise at times should bear the above in mind.

Weighing It Up The Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company has circularised cheese suppliers to ascertain haw much whey they desire to cart away from the factory, or alternativelyj whether they wish the company to make use of the whey resulting from the milk which they supply. It is understood the company will cart surplus whey to its pig farm at Edgecumbe. Why? Because dry weather has cut down the butterfat supply from the butter factory and pigs are squealing or is there mcaiey in bacon?