From the islands Press

rHE rule of law is endangered in this territory (of Papua- Guinea). We are forced to pend lavishly on court buildings nd highly paid defence counsel, yhile scrimping on our detective »ranch and underpaying our lolice force.

Cut-price detection, onus of »roof on an undermanned law mforcement body, and free lefence for the accused! What tther country offers such delights o its criminal element?

The rule of law is not enhanced >y fancy architecture or Mozartian vigs on the bench. It lives on mly so long as it has the con idence of the people.

Right now the confidence of the aw-abiding taxpayer is at a pretty ow ebb. —Letter from “Citizen” n the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby. [F you go fishing in the morning, put your hand into the water, say, a foot deep. If the water is varm, then you know fishing will dc very good. But if the water is :old, then go back home, luck vill be against you. —Letter from j correspondent in the "Niue Newsletter”. rHE need for the proper physical education of youth las been recognised by all in iependent states except, un fortunately, Western Samoa —by he appointment of official sports Erectors and councils. The health and welfare of youth as a national asset now demands more than the activities of a few men and women who can devote only their spare time to the organisation of youth activities.

A request by the Government to the United Nations for the ex tended appointment of a national sports organiser would un doubtedly be received sympathet ically.—Editorial in the “Samoa Bulletin”.

IT is now three years since Ali Mohammed, South Seas heavy weight wrestling champion, has

defended his title. As a rule, every champion should defend his title every six months.

I lost that belt by default through no fault of mine, except maybe through throwing a couple of policemen and spectators out of the ring, and turning on to the referee, too. I have paid for that dearly by being disqualified.

Now I am demanding a return match to prove to the public that I am the rightful owner of the belt. —Letter from Gabriel Stephens, Jnr., alias Killer Kowal ski, of Samoa, in "The Fiji Times”.

THE introduction of alcohol to the native diet (in P-NG) has brought about quite a few novel problems. One of these is pro duced by the thin line defining the difference between some of the OP rums and methylated spirits.

It is still illegal to consume methylated spirits in anything but lamps, stoves and other combus tible articles. But some brands of OP rum, although quite as effec tive for these purposes, can also be used to produce a powerful im petus on the human frame.

Now, when alcohol was com pletely taboo to the native popu lation, policing was easy. A couple of cops got the native suspect to position and while one said “blow” the other smelt the issuing breath and the two decided the issue there and then.

However, the latest situation has led to what is now known as the “flame” test. This has no connec tion with the dusky flames attend ing the party, but is done with a common match.

The suspect is jockeyed into position and asked to blow a match out. If he succeeds he is re garded as just a common drunk, whereas if the suspect himself blows up he is taken in on sus picion of having drunk metho.— Letter from Lance H. Wilkinson, Port Moresby, in the “South Paci fic Post”.