Sickness—And Empty Tanks

From Our Own Correspondent A WEAKNESS in Cook Island village life that needs adjusting is the lack of good drinking-water while an epid emic (as at present) makes this a vital need. The rain tanks are empty; and only “the river” —a dirty creek —remains to keep villagers’ buckets filled. No one seems to think that this muddy liquid re quires boiling; it is given to sick children straight from the pail. August is gener ally a “dry month” here; and this un satisfactory water supply further compli cates epidemic problems. The remedy lies in a programme of tank-building, to increase the catchments of pure rain water.