Neighbourhood-

Tea-Drinking

Is Out At

Neighbourhood- Circles in Rarotonga

THERE seemed to be a certain amount of starry eyed wishful thinking associated with a circular issued to selected residents of Rarotonga in June.

The circular, issued by the new Social Development Officer, called on the recipients to pull their weight in promoting more cordial relations between Maori and European residents and in improv ing the social awareness and general knowledge of the English language amongst the Maori people.

To attain these ends, the circular called on the selected Europeans to form social groups of about a dozen Maori friends, to meet at regular intervals in the successive homes of the group who would lead in discussions of an educational but non-controversial nature. The subject of religion should in particular be avoided. Reading lessons would be in order, but there must be no suppers or teas, as such commitments might be beyond the means of some.

Without in any way decrying the

ideals of the scheme, those who know the ways of the world, with particular reference to the Cook Islands, feel that though suppers may be shunned like the plague at these social gatherings, it is probable that the bush-beer bucket may not be far away and that the gatherings might prove more

cordial than expected, though aloir

less idealistic lines.

J.P.S.

t Higaturu Village Council, Papu is seeking a loan of £2,000 to hes build a coffee processing factor The Council was formed only tti year and is already well-establish©