Devonport in the depression and in the aftermath of the Second World War, as seen by the 'North Shore Gazette'
Photograph - 1714-R009-28 courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, the 'Dominion Monarch' at Auckland in the 1940s.
There are 17 issues of the 'North Shore Gazette' for the 1945 to 1948 period on The Preserving Local History and Educational Trust website preservinglocalhistory.recollectcms.com/.
There are also just two from 1934 and two from 1936. All but two issues were donated by Devonport Museum, while the former North Shore Historical Society helped fund some of the preservation work. Also included in the trust's digitisation are all 11 issues of the 'Northcote Athenaeum Meteor', which was published annually from 1905 to 1915. The athenaeum was a literary, musical, debating and dramatic society formed in Northcote in 1903.
The 'North Shore Gazette' issues for 5 March 1934, 28 June 1934, 8 October 1936 and 15 October 1936 cover a time of extended economic depression. The two 1934 issues are for the eight-page 'North Shore Gazette and Victoria Theatre Courier', continuing the link with that cinema, and one includes a report from the Women's Branch of the Devonport Unemployed Association. Those issues for 1936 detail activities by both the Devonport and Takapuna RSAs furthering the wellbeing of their members and families.
There are only 14 issues of the 'North Shore Gazette' for the 4 October 1945 to 12 September 1946 period, with the remainder just those dated 6 May and 13 March 1947 and 12 May 1948. Nevertheless, that does enable at least a partial overview for the immediate post-war period. The war in Europe had ended on 8 May 1945, while Japan formally surrendered on 15 August 1945.
Noting the return of former prisoners of war on the ship 'Dominion Monarch', the 'Gazette' also described Vauxhall Tennis Club's welcome home for club members previously serving overseas. The Devonport RSA had ambitious post-war plans for developing its premises.
The Takapuna Borough Council reported shortages of labour and materials for its road and drainage work, while house-building suffered from a post-war acute shortage of building materials. There was also a report on the Devonport Transit Camp, offering temporary accommodation. In March 1947, the recently elected Labour M.P. for North Shore, Dr. A. M. Finlay, reported on the Labour government's commitment to building the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Naval dockyard expanding into Patuone Place.
The 'Gazette' still regularly publicised films at the Victoria cinema, emphasising how important regular film-going was at that time for popular entertainment. Nevertheless, the 'Gazette' also began to include details of radio programmes. The four page 'Gazette' was distributed only in Devonport and Takapuna boroughs, though the list of agents for the newspaper was solely Devonport-based. However, in March 1947 the 'Gazette' hoped to expand into Northcote.
There were reports from the Devonport Orphans' Club and the Druids, along with those from local rugby, cricket, cycling, swimming, hockey, tennis, golf, soccer and yachting clubs. There was also the installation of a swimming pool at Stanley Bay School, a reunion for former Takapuna Grammar pupils and a celebration of 80 years for St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Devonport. Details of Devonport weddings, engagements and obituaries continued, as did the women's and children's columns, and both gardening and cooking hints.
The separately published 'North Shore Times' dates from 30 March 1949, and I have previously written about this title.
Written by David Verran