[?]n Ni it Was a Poll

[?]er to the Editor

[?]n Ni it Was a Poll Not a Plebiscite

E remarks directed at 'irresponsible journalism” in r our October editorial are :y and true; but you definitely tot practise what you preach ir as Norfolk Island news is irned. nr reporting on Norfolk Island *s has suffered from many truths and inaccuracies—so i so that we are forced to ; the veracity of your news i other islands. your July issue, under a ng “Liquor Plebiscite” you that residents voted 97 per to retain the old system. In ting this you are furthering nard fostered by local and “rra bureaucrats and ;ians. The method adopted to ain public opinion on the ’ question was neither a •endum” nor a “plebiscite”, lerely a questionnaire. Forms g out four alternatives were Lted at various stores and is wishing to express their ■ence had to collect a form, in, and deposit it in a box, re was none of the procedure ed in a normal election or ndum by secret ballot. Re

suits were computed by an Admini stration official and a local clergy man and the answer obtained was doubtless very agreeable to the Administration.

According to figures released to the Advisory Council, 303 people recorded their opinion. At the Council Elections held some six weeks later, over 500 voted. In other words, more than 40 per cent, of the electors recorded their opinion of the Liquor Questionnaire by ignoring it—a treatment it richly deserved. This, we think you will admit, is a very different picture from the one created by your report.

We could list numerous other occasions when your reporting on Norfolk Island has similarly created an entirely false impression in the minds of readers by the very journalistic sins you condemn.

This may be the fault of your Norfolk Island correspondent, whose identity seems to be a deep, dark secret here. But we trust you will remedy the fault, wherever it may lie.

I am, etc.,

A. Needham,

Acting Chairman, Progress Assn.

Norfolk Is., November 23, 1956.

Mr. Needham’s somewhat delayed letter unfortunately does not

expl am why the fact that 40 nn Vv, 0f r residents had no opinion * liquor question, or did not £ the , r .u to record n ' was “treatment it (the questionnaire) richly deserved.” Are we to assume that there was more in the public opinion poll on the NI liquor regulations than met the eye—

what the Russians called, in the case of Nina and the hats, “a dirty provocation?” —Ed. PIM. t The Rev D. A. Rawcliffe, head master of the Melanesian Mission’s Maravovo School, BSIP. and the Rev. Philip Baker, of Malaita, are in New Zealand on leave.

t The pre-war Matson-Oceanic liner Monterey, well known on the trans pacific service, is now being com pletely remodeled and will enter the company’s service next July as the Matsonia on the Hawaii-West Coast service. She will be the third vessel of the company to bear that name.

t Government land is to be available to landless young W« Samoans over 25 years w applications are sponsored b Ali’i and Faipule of their vi!

Two Government blocks of 2S 200 acres are to be opened u the purpose.