Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1947 AN UNFORTUNATE RIFT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 77, 24 January 1947, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1947 AN UNFORTUNATE RIFT

THE oft repeated remark that the farming community could never show a united front in order to serve its own interests would appear to have some basis of construction when the present impasse amongst the primary producers of the Bay of Plenty is considered. For the first time in farming history the movement which has led to the formation of Federated Farmers, appeared to be about to assert the claims of the producers in a manner which would be undeniable—the very objective for which the old Farmers’ Union was striving unsuccessfully to achieve over the years. It is doubly unfortunate therefore that upon an apparently technical issue—the status of the Bay of Plenty—all the spleen and enmity of the past seemed to have been unearthed again, and the farmers thus fallen into two distinct camps; one representing the Farmers’ Union of old desiring to hold the Province intact and to its banner; the other believing that the Bay is powerful enough to stand on its own feet and enjoy a direct voice on the Federated Council as an individual Province. Upon this point was based the recent, and much-discussed plebiscite, which resulted in a win for the supporters of the latter course.. The ballot, however has been spurned by the group favouring the Auckland Province, and the result has officially not been recognised on the grounds of irregularities. Allegation and assertions t.o this effect have gone a long way along the road to making the rift even deeper, and the misunderstanding more pronounced. Even in the comparatively small districts, there is a sharpened difference of opinion which places harmonious co-operation at an even greater distance in the future. With the growing importance of primary production in a world of shortages, it is the earnest desire of all right-minded persons to see the farmers united as never before in the interests of gaining the maximum from the land in a manner which best serves the man on the land. All this and more can only be achieved by unanimity, and it is distinctly distressing to see the newest difference of opinion growing into a first-class rift which will still permit the industrial demands to dictate the course of action to be followed by the primary producers. It is the sincere wish of onlooking town-dweller to see the farmers of New Zealand speak with a united voice in the interests of the industry which has more than once been designated ‘the backbone of the Dominion.’

ARE WE AIR-MINDED ? WITH the civilian air-line services opening up in various parts of the North Island, Whakatane appears once more to be in grave danger of being passed over.’ Tauranga has been designated a terminal to an important route, while Opotiki has been cited as another point for early recognition. What of our growing town? While we prosper in all other spheres of activity, it appears that we have sadly neglected one of the most vital and progressive aspects of all—aviation. Just how sadly, may be shown from a study of the history of our attempts to find a landing field in this district over the past ten years; long, futile arguments, between local bodies disinclined to help themselves and falling down sullenly on the question of site. As a result we have accomplished just exactly nothing by local body endeavour, and have been hardened to the simpler and less worrying expedient of sitting back and declaring the whole question a national one. The newly created Aero Club has certainly shown some signs of life, but it should be actively sponsored by both Borough and County authorities, so that a town like Whakatane, already bursting its. boundaries with a population of over 3000 will be assured of enjoying the benefits of the mode of travel of the future. A case in point; last Wednesday a patient from the Auckland Hospital was flown down to the Bay and carried to Te Kaha by the Whakatane Ambulance, which in order to collect the sufferer had to go to Opotiki merely because we lacked, what every centre worthy of the name possesses—a landing field. Broadly the position in Whakatane finds itself today is inexcusable, and unless rectified quickly must be the cause of bitter recriminations in the future. Bounded on three sides by 60,000 acres of flat land, we are yet unable to .spare a meagre hundred for the purpose of bringing our communities in line with modern travel. Time marches on, as the movies have it, and with all the main air routes now being plotted it is doubtful if our town will even be considered as anything other than a secondary base for a ‘taxi service’ to the more favoured towns where ports’ are already established. Even such a designation as that is merely a shadow possibility unless we bestir ourselves. Wake up Whakatane !

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO ? RAISED eyebrows were the order in the local Court last Tuesday when it was discovered that a Mao'ri war-pensioner, who with his wife was in receipt of no less than £2B per month, was presenting his excuses for not honouring an affiliation claim for 10/- weekly now substantially in arrears. The case might easily have been judged on its own merits, were it not for the fact that the defendant was earlier in the same sitting, convicted of having been guilty of supplying young Maori girls with liquor at a clandestine party. The inference is naturally enough that the defendant had plenty of money to finance such a party, but not sufficient to meet his own responsibilities. Here is a further glaring case of the curse of abundant money which appears to be the undoing of so many of our friends amongst Maori peoples.