THE “NEWS” ATTACKED

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 216, 4 August 1939, Page 4

THE “NEWS” ATTACKED

TIRADE BY “BEACON” ANGRY MOOD DISPLAYED The following leader appeared in Monday’s issue of the Bay of Plenty i\\ liakatano) Beacon, headed “Unauthorised Criticism” : AYliy, when the citizens of Whakatane lendt unanimous voice to their wishes in respect of the course to he taken by the proposed new East Coast Highway, they should he subjected to a tirade of criticism and ridicule from a news organ situated forty nines away is a little bard to understand. Yet such is -definitely the case and 1 in perfect- sincerity we take this opportunity of a.sking the Opotiki Press by what authority it has presumed to impcsci upon itself the role of arbiter in the affairs of Whakataue. Were the

article appearing in the Press of last week, other than a two column leader we would have treated it merely in the light of news giving vent to a pari.filial expression of opinion, but when a paper has the effrontery to deliberately set itself out to quash the activities of a community in which it has no interest whatsoever, then we foe! it is time to call a halt. Wo take strong exception to this longfingeml meddling and are somewhat surprised at the utter lack of ordinary courtesy in the maimer of its perpetration. If tin paper has se much space to devote to the affairs of others we would suggest a wider and more charitable field, with the even better alternative of nutting its own house in order first, and, bluntly, of minding its own business. Wbakatane citizens have every right toi seek the advancement of their own town, ft is neither* necessary or desirable to have this self-imposed Dictatorship hovering in the distance and fanning up «a mass of imagined public grievances and small town prejudices. Were we to imagine that the contentions of this sideline critic would he taken serious notice of by th.• authorities the position would become intolerable, and wo would be toned to pul our arguments in plainer words. The forty mile gap. however separating the writer from /the actual seat- of operations at- cnee .makes all contentions utterly ludicrous and without claim to substance or spine, do assume that they represented the views of the people of Opotiki would Ik- equally as empty in view of the hit hoi to good trading and see in I relations existing between the towns. We have no wish to stimulate the feeling of bitterness precipitated by the tone and insinuation of the Opotiki paper. It is our earnest hope that the liiendiy intertown relations will always obtain. But we do ask that we he lolt unmolested in endeavouring to improve onr own town and bringing to ils citizens the best benefits of egress and transport. Wbakatane is busily engaged in its own affairs and trusts that the Opotiki Press "ill confine itself in luf ure to a reflection of its own mi 1)1 ic concerns, rather than these id a neighbouring community which is endeavouring to progress and promote goodwill.