Hardships At

Letters to the Editor

Penang

IN reply to an item in Editors’

Mailbag, “In Fiji She Missed Butchers’ Shops” (April PIM, page 20), I wish to state that it is apparent that you, yourself, or the other person who wrote it, has never been past Suva, in Fiji—that is if you have even been there at all.

Most people think Suva is Fiji, The people, I must say, did not blush for Mrs. McConochie because they themselves know the hardships that are endured.

It is apparent that you think my wife just a liar who makes up stories to get her name in the newspapers.

As regards amenities, it is quite correct about tinned vegetables, as at Penang fresh vegetables are un obtainable from November to March. No doubt in Suva you can ?et them but that is 100 miles away over dirt roads. As regards fruit— pawpaws, pineapples and bananas ire available sometimes; other fruits we are only able to get on rare occasions. This was due to the very nfrequent shipping.

No doubt our New Guinea friend loes not read the front pages of PIM, where he would see that New Guinea ports are served by a very ■egular service, which is shown in he shipping Time Tables.

I could go on for quite a while filing you more about life there, md all of this can be verified if r our paper cares to send someone ver there in the months mentioned, fhe winter months in Fiji are ill right as local vegetables are •btainable.

I would be very pleased if you rculd print this as written if you re game enough, and without Iteration.

My wife was only talking about ‘enang, not Fiji in general. You ave made everyone in Penang look ools in the eyes of other places in tie Pacific.

I am, etc.,

N. C. Mcconochie

lorningside, irisbane, Qld., une 14, 1956.