The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, NOV. 26, 1943 GROWING BOMBING OFFENSIVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 28, 26 November 1943, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, NOV. 26, 1943 GROWING BOMBING OFFENSIVE

IF ever a nation reaped a crop of dragon's teeth, Nazi Germany to-day must be the groaning illustration. Four years ago when the German bombers blackened the skies over London and tempered the English population in the fires of incendiaries and destruction the swashbuckling Georing Avho invited journalists to see the spectacle of the ages, from the French coast, never imagined that the horror he then let loose would recoil in tenfold intensity upon his own people. Night and day during the past week the coast dwellers in the South of England have become accustomed to the continuous roar of high powered aircraft on theii way to or returning from raids on the German capital. Berlin has had its greatest taste of war as the Nazis themselves initiated it and slowly her wretched inhabitants are learning to appreciate the words of England's Prime Minister, following the thousand-bomber raid on Cologne nearly a year ago, when lie said that until the unconditional surrender of Germany such a fate was reserved for all her war industrial centres —town by town they would be destroyed until the culprits who were responsible for the oppression of the greater part of Europe were made to pay for their crimes and face up to their responsibilities. The heart of industrial Berlin we are informed to-day, is but a heap of rubble. The famous vice-chancellery has also suffered damage whilst, once again tens of thousands have ben rendered homeless, presenting yet a new problem to 1 the already badly worried Nazi Government. How long can the German population stand up to the strain of prolonged bombing on this scale ?

THE UNEQUAL BURDEN

IT would be interesting to know just how many people realise that the medical needs of the Whakatane district embracing a population of something like 13,000 persons were served by two overworked practitioners who were to-' day gamely battling against the unequal task of attending to a growing volume of patients demanding attention at all hours of the night or day. The question has become so pressing in view of the threatened health of the local practilioners that the Chamber of Commerce has taken the matter up and is making urgent representations to the Ministry of Health in an endeavour to obtain lelief. It was stated at the meeting that owing to the demands of the military forces there were now only 800 registered doctors left in the Dominion to attend to the needs of approximately one and a quarter million. Whakatane with its wide back block areas and its scattered population must surely present one of the most acute cases for medical service in the country,, and until such time as relief can be obtained it behoves all residents to study the unenviable; position of the local doctors who are labouring under a weight of responsibility the extent of which few if any of their patients can have any conception.

TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR MAORIS

EMPHASISING the need for technical training for Maori school boys rather than the accepted idea of assuming that they will all revert back to farming on second-class Maori-held land, the headmaster of the Whakatane School, Mr I. Hubbard, drew strong attention to the growing problem which would have to be faced in the near future unless the young Maoris were trained to follow useful and productive occupations. "If you want to see what's happening to the Maori boys of this district," he said, "go into any of the billiard saloons or watch them about the streets. Many of these Maoris will never make farmers, but they are, almost all of them, clever with their hands. Give them a chance! Let us have them taught a useful and profitable trade so that they can take their part in our community life and assist towards the town's prosperity." How well every thinking person must agree with him.

CHIEF SCOUT COMMISSIONER'S VISIT

A REMINDER to those businessmen who are interested in the visit of Hector Christie Esq., Dominion Scout Commissioner,, which takes place to-morrow at 10.30 a.m. in the lounge of the Whakatane Hotel. Commissioner Christie will be accompanied by Sir James Grose; and Sir Joseph Smith who likewise desire to meet as many local businessmen as possible.

PLUNKET APPEAL

ANNUAL Plunket Appeal Day to-day. His Majesty the Baby "expects all true citizens of Whakatane to nobly do .their duty." Stalls on Strand and at Kopeopeo.

New Coat for R.M. Painting operations now in progress at the Railway Services Office on the Strand bid fair to transform the building almost beyond recognition. Following on the extensive alterations also recently completed in the office itself, the new structure has become a distinct asset and ornament to the eastern Strand.

Slipped in Cowshed Whilst assisting in the milking operations at Thornton, Mrs Alice Hoyland whose husband is a sharemilker for Mr Stewart Spence, slipped and severely injured herself last Tuesday. She was removed to the Whakatane Hospital where she is now reported to be making good progress.'

comradcs when captured senselessly tortured and starved to death, what else could we expect from human beings, than an overwhelming appetite for vengeance and,, and who is to says that it is undeserved. our friends of the. Secretariat honestly think that the invading armies of the Communistic State would behave in. Germany like a lot of Sunday School students or peerless knight-errants ? We leavc ; the trend of future, events to tell the tale! Ilf we have any guage on human nature, the invasion of Germany by the Russian armies; will present a pathway of vengeance which will reach and may even surpass the Nazi atrocities in their frightfulness. Such things are not exactly nice to contemplate, but as they, unfortunately are within the scope of human activities why should we hesitate to face up to them. Ed.)