The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1941. OURSELVES, ONCE MORE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 296, 21 April 1941, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1941. OURSELVES, ONCE MORE

TWO years ago to-day the first copy of the BEACON left the press and presented itself as the new local news medium for the town and county of Whakatane. The second anniver sary of the occasion serves to remind us of the appreciation which we owe to the public generally and in thus recognising the continued interest and support of our readers and advertisers we extend our grateful thanks. During the comparatively short term of our existence we have endeavoured to give free and open service to the district, supporting vigorously all movements which have been for its benefit, condemning and criticising all which are likely to be to its detriment. Wc feel that we have been as fair as it has been possible to be to' all sections, and though we ourselves have at times come under the hard light of criticism for pursuance of this very policy of freedom of expression, we realise that it would be impossible to please everybody. But on the other hand we feel that we have the right to maintain that these columns have been consistently dedicated to the service of the people in the area in which the BEACON circulates. With the continued goodwill of our subscribers we will be enabled to maintain this policy. Reviewing the difficulties of the p#st twelve months we are also mindful of the splendid support accorded us by the advertising businessmen who have made it possible for us to increase circulation and improve news service to a standard whidh has been endorsed by all who take and enjoy the paper. The confidence revealed in their continued patronage as advertisers is. particularly gratifying during the war period and to them we express our special thanks. We trust that the coming year will show a trade improvement ushercjd in by the dawn of peaceful days and a return to normal living. As far as the paper itself is concerned we will continue to serve as in the past, living with the activities of the district, enjoying its accomplishments, championing its rights, ventilating its complaints, forwarding its public questions, fostering its progress, proffering advice and constructive criticism, and generally endeavouring to fulfil in every respect the role which a local newspaper is expected to play. If we have offended in the pursuance of this policy we beg a little toleration on the part of those- whose toes we have trodden on.A little understanding will reveal some of the difficulties of a paper striving to be independent of influence i'om any carter, free from a,ny bias of a personal: nature and neutral in its expression of opinion. Two years of striving in the above direction have resulted in the establishment of the BEACON in twelve hundred homes in the town and on the Plains. Its fearlessness has provided a consistent 'public opinion' column which is filled with letters from all classes of readers. For this reason we feel we can assert that w 7 e have won the confidence and esteem of our readers, and we trust that we will always merit* it. We join now with our many friends in the common hope that the shadows which have gathered during the past eighteen months will be dispensed and that peace will soon be re-established on earth bringing contentment and happiness once again.