READERS CONSIDER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 7, 13 October 1950, Page 4

READERS CONSIDER

DR APPLEBY’S FAREWELL Sir, —The Oraginsing Committee desires to draw the citizens’ attention to the following points:—

1. The function is sponsored by the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce.

2. It will take the form of an informal gathering at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday next in the King Street Hall.

3. An open invitation is extended to all ladies and gentlemen in the district to attend. 4. There will be light refreshments and a few items, a presentation and an address.

5. In order to assist in the catering, the committee requests those who intend being present to communicate with either Messrs B. Butler (President of the Chamber of Commerce), H. G. Warren or C. Kingsley-Smith at their earliest convenience. Yours etc., H. G. WARREN, For- the Committee. Whakatane, October 12, 1950. '

FEDERATED FARMERS Sir, —It is with reluctance that I answer Mr Wells’ letter of October 11. But I must state that his letter is incomplete and most misleading. I am prepared to uphold our legal and moral right to hold meetings and have members in this district in which we live, before the highest courts of the land. We were the first members of Federated Farmers in the district. We carried out Dominion instructions.

Our Province contributes nearly £II,OOO to Dominion this year if not more.

Farmers cannot unite by dividing themselves.

They cannot act unless they know what others are thinking. Mr Wells himself has had to come to our central office in order to act in certain matters which can only be handled there. Why deny that right to others? Our Sub-Pro-vince has more money, more freedom than small Provinces and we have the backing of over 11,000 members. We meet together every month. Our subscription can be recovered.

Yours etc., R. W. DUNNING, Sub-Provincial President, F.F. Bay of Plenty Sub-Province.

THANKS TO PAKEHAS Sir, —Since the recent celebrations of the landing of the Mata-atua Canoe, I have perused every edition of your paper wyth but one thought in my mind. But I have looked in vain.

As yet no word or Tetter of appreciation has appeared to thank the members of our pakeha community for the wonderful assistance and invaluable help they gave to us on this memorable occasion. Let me, therefore, express my heartfelt gratitude to our pakeha friends. His Worship the Mayor, Mr Kingsley-Smith and his fellow Rotarians and the various local organisations (whose names I cannot enumerate) to you, one and all, I say “thank you” from the bottom of my heart. It was indeed gratifying to know that on this, the greatest Maori event in the modern history of our little town, our pakeha friends gave of their best, thereby contributing in a large measure to the outstanding success of this memorable gathering.

At long last we Maoris have experienced the feeling of equality for which we have always longed. Let us, therefore, strive, forever, to uphold this spirit of unity with our pakeha brothers, that henceforth we can truthfully say, “There is no colour bar in Whakatane.” Yours etc., POROPORO.

THE MAYOR’S RACE Sir, —Former Mayors were noted for staying powers. Few Boroughs can claim the record of ours, year in year out, while the Borough expanded and councillors left or were disbanded though many colleagues have come and gone, and made a record race of Mayors doing their best for their ratepayers. But the time has come for a change to be made. A Mayor is needed to make the grade, who will keep up the Borough tradition and efficiently fill the vacant position. Some are demanding an election, but there seems no samples for selection. One candidate to fill the place and continue the Mayorial race. Some have other fish to fry, others are indifferent or too shy, and out of all the electoral roll there seems to be only one willing soul, who will serve Whakatane town as Mayor, and see ratepayers treated fair, brave the doubts and storms of protest, which is at the reward for doing one’s best. It is one thing to dictate from an armchair, and another to act as the Borough’s May-

or, whether chosen by popular vote, or only one horse in the local tote which will be the case if eligible steeds don’t respond to the Borough’s needs (which criticism never will supply) if the also ran fail to apply, for an equal chance in the Borough race down the straight for the next Mayor’s place. Yours etc., HARRY SERGANT. October 9, 1950.