Ng Liquor Laws Need

Attention

THERE are some strange anomalies in the liquor laws in Papua and New Guinea. For example, hotels in Papua do not pay any licence fees. Barmaids are not allowed to serve in hotels in New Guinea, but they are employed in hotels in Papua. Another regulation quaint in a country where so much social life congregates in the lounges of the hotel, is that which says that there may be only one bar in each hotel one bar specially equipped to attend to lounge de mands is not allowed.

The whole liquor position in Papua-New Guinea needs revision.

The liquor evil definitely is creep ing in among the sophisticated natives of the Kokopo District, in the Rabaul area. Generally, official supervision over the liquor laws is conscientious and efficient—but some poor types have been given authority at times, and one result is seen in the way in which some Chinese traders of the Kokopo District have been permitted to supply liquor to natives. These Chinese stores stock up with a very bad type of whisky and gin—not for the European trade but to serve the sophisticated natives. Some Europeans complain of howling and yelling, drunkenness and insolence among natives, as a result of this new traffic in booze.

Fishermen of Levuka, Fiji, have formed themselves into an Anglers’

Club, whose objects are to en courage fishing and the study of fish. They will hold quarterly and annual points competitions. Captain S. F. Sanders has been elected president and Messrs. C. Sorensen and E. O. Sundin as vice-presidents.

Mr. K. Thorpe is the new secretary.

Fifty nurses from territories throughout the Western Pacific region of the World Health Organ isation will attend a seminar at Suva next July or August. The seminar will last from three to four weeks. Amongst the subjects dis cussed will be aspects of the train ing of local girls, health problems and welfare services in the tropics.