The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1945 1945 HOPES AND OBLIGATIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 43, 26 January 1945, Page 4

The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1945 1945 HOPES AND OBLIGATIONS

| Unlighted Bicycles For riding bicycles after sunset without the requisite lights thereon, the following were proceeded against by the Transport Department in the Whakatane Court last Tuesday and fined 5s and costs 12 : Betty John Bridgman and Margaret Robb-. Heath Robi>nson Touch The County Council was in engaged in some trenchant criticism of the State main highways and the deplorable condition they were in in this district. It was decided to bring the matter before the Main Highways Board when it visited Whakatane next month. Cr McCready got in with the usual dig by criticising the limited use of the road plainer which was operating. "Call it a planer," he said. "I could do a better job with a sugar bag tied behind a push bike."

FOR some reason or other the New Year period seems to exert a greater influence over the individual —maybe the spirit of adventure into an unknown field of effort and aspiration is partly responsible, but nevertheless it is true, that onels optimism becomes more clearly manifested than it does for instance over the Christmas period. Retrospection, too, can always be developed and this year the yardstick of endeavour denotes many avenues of progress. In connection with the world conflict, for example, compare the position of the United Nations with what itwas twelve months ago—we have progressed beyond our most sanguine expectations with the result that already many people firmly believe that the incoming year will see victory achieved. On the other hand our political leaders assure us that the way is yet long and arduous, but even politicians have over and over again been proved to be bad guessers. Just a perfunctory glance through the day-to-day happenings of the past year gives unmistakable proof that our progress on land and sea and in the air has been slow but steady and our debt to the fighting men of the nations is immeasurably great. In the borders of our own Dominion, too, while there may have been setbacks the people as a whole are conscious of the part they must play to ensure the welfare of the country and its inhabitants. The problems may be varied and a trifle difficult to find a happy solution, but the people as a whole should be capable of exerting their full energies in the direction of making a worth while contribution to the national welfare. As has so often been pointed out the habit of complacency can cause irreparable damage and it behoves each and every individual citizen to take a realistic attitude towards his own and his neighbour's constitutional rights and privileges and to keep them inviolate. It is true that in times of war there is need for some measure of restriction, but while working assiduously to achieve victory for our cause there is the ever present necessity of protecting the welfare of the nation and at the same time giving a fair and just share of our labours in the special calling in which we may be engaged. It has been apparent from time to time throughout the past twelve months that some sections have been inclined to withhold their active participation in the struggle to maintain some vestige of our accustomed standard of living, but they have gained little sympathy from the rest of the: people or encouragement. Many hopes and aspirations may be founded on the bright prospects associated with the coming of the New Year, but it is well to realise that these can only be gain" ed by the willing co-operation, tolerance and effort of all isections of the community and not by any selfish or unfair attitude of a few. As has been so frequently emphasised New Zealanders are, generally speaking, adaptable and enterprising, and, if they accept the responsibilities imposed on them by the requirements of 1945 in a fair and impartial manner, our sincere wish for everyone of a BRIGHTER AND HAPPIER YEAR should be adequately fulfilled.

A Dangerous Horse The County Traffic Inspector proceeded against Sehvyn Olsen in the Whakatane Court last Tuesday, as the owner of a light draught gelding which was allowed to be at large upon the road at Otakiri on the 13th October last. Inspector Carling in evidence said that the horse was dangerous and and had broken away from the defendant when he was taking it to a paddock. He had not made any effort to recapture it.. Witness had ta'ken it to [ the Whakatane pound ? and interviewed defendant who admitted ownership, but failed also to release it from the pound.. The horse had later been sold by auction for 10/-, and defendant charged with droving and impounding expenses amounting to £3/2/6. A fine of £2 and costs amounting to 30/6 was imposed.