The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1942. THREAT TO SOUTH PACIFIC

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 89, 10 August 1942, Page 4

The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1942. THREAT TO SOUTH PACIFIC

CAN we disguise to ourselves the facts as they emerge from the ominous lull in the Japanese offensive in the South Pacific? Obviously Japan has every intention in the world, of attempting her off-repeated threat,, of attacking, and if -we give ear to Togo, himself, of subduing the continent of Australia and the more southerly Islands of New Zealand. The quiesent period of manoeuvring into position can only be ta,ken as a prelude, to the deeply laid plans of the grand* strategy of the Mikado's war cabinet. Infiltration, has been going on steadily in New Guinea in spite of the heckling and pestering from the Australian and American air force units stationed at Darwin and along the northern coastline. The arifield at Kokoda in New Guinea fell last week as did the coastal settlements of Buna and Gona. The threat to our outpost at Port Moresby has been intensified \an hundred-fold as a result. Obviously the Japanese are working to a definite plan which they have.every intention of fulfilling. As one Australian military leader said recently ''there may not be a second Battle of the: Coral Sea, or Midway next time," These may be grim words but they are full of reality and meaning and it would be idle for us to close our eyes to possibilities. There is however a new set of circumstances which may yet again side-track Japan's plans for conquest in Australasian waters—lndia. In this vast Empire within an Empire, Japan at j;he present time must see potential possibilities which may tempt her from eveh the most cast-iron policy of predetermined attack. India would afford her ample scope for the united strength of her army and her navy and the lesser populations of far away Australia and the Antipodies could wait! Such an adjustment might readily suggest itself and such a change of front is just as full of possibilities as Hitler's fatal switch into Russia last year. Japan must undoubtedly be at the cross-roads of decision at the present moment andi until the final outcome of the Indian Congress is finalised, it would be reasonable to suppose that there will be no major move by the nation of the Nipponese.

BASIS OF PATRIOTIC ALLOCATION A RECOMMENDATION going forward from the Zone 'K" Patriotic Executive Committee to the Auckland Prvoincial Council reads: "That future appeals be allocated as between Zones, on the basis of the mean rateable capital value and mean population. Maori population to be assessed for fund raising purposes as two Maoris counting as one European— that in recommending that for fund raising purposes that two Maoris be assessed as equal to one European, this executive has in mind the several appeals which are made to Maori people for funds for the provision of special comfdrts solely for the Maori Battalion." The latter point "wt? feel, relative to the Maori population has most to commend it and we are in hearty agreement with the proposal which undoubtedly makes for a fairer and more equitiable distribution of the responsibility of raising funds. As it stands at present the committee is expected to recover from the Maori populations of both Whakatane and: Opotiki the same pro rata as from the wealthier European population. The unfairness is further exemplified by the fact, that the Maoris have voluntarily taken upon themselves the task of sending overseas special native delicacies and comforts which is a direct charge upon themselves. It will be noted too, that the Euatoki Maoris,, far from shirking their obligations in the present appeal have empowered the Patriotic Committee to lift their allocation in one sum from their factory bonus money. A gesture which further indicates their patriotism and their solidity.

PAPER TO BURN

THE whole country is now awaiting an official lead from the Government as to the method of collecting and depositinf waste paper \yhich it is now illegal to destroy. The average householder is more than willing to co-operate in the drive to save paper but the position, in the absence of any systemised collection depots is fast becoming absurd. Scarcely a day passes without some enquiry coming to this office from patriotically-minded persons who have now accumulated more paper than they can conveniently store within the limitations of their dwellings. The fact that Whakatane has already experienced two paper drives within the past month, would tend to relieve this centre to a much greater extent than its neighbouring towns which will have accumulations for years past Unless the Government which decreed the regulations is willing at the same time to make their observation possible, by systemisedi regular collection, it cannot hope to have the public keeping to the letter of the new anti-waste laws.