From the Islands Press

THE other day an MLA (of Western Samoa) remarked in all sincerity and with much indignation, “We are the ones who are supposed to run this country.

What does this Commission of Enquiry think it is doing telling us we cannot increase our own salaries?”

This reflects a misunderstanding common among legislators all round the world and particularly common in new states such as Western Samoa. The fact is that in a democracy, legislators are not so much the rulers as the ser vants of the people, and a well planned Constitution as we do have in Samoa, contains the machinery that ensures this re mains the case.

The fact that some members of the Assembly do not acknow ledge with goodwill the due pro cess of the law by accepting the findings of the Commission only strengthens the belief that the safe guards of the Constitution were most wisely placed.— Editorial in “Samoana”.

EVERY year more money is needed to maintain the health of our people (in Western Samoa). There appears to be a rising incidence of jaundice, hepa titis and other liver complaints.

It is more than coincidence that the increase in sickness rises with the amount of tinned and frozen foods imported.

In Samoa much of what we im port can be grown and sold fresh for our tables. The land and the climate will grow the food. What is lacking is the effort. And so we continue to import what fills but does not nourish.

Much can be done for the health of the people and the economy of the country by in creasing the production of our own food supply. It could easily be done at a cost of little be yond organisation, encouragement and an incentive to do a bit more work.— Editorial in the “Samoa Bulletin”.

THE Commonwealth Govern ment and Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited some years ago combined to build a great ply mill at Bulolo. The project was launched to utilise hundreds of acres of natural pine forest in the area.

The news that the ply produc ing CNGT has had to dismiss about 100 employees because the plywood cannot be sold in large quantities is distressing. But what is really distressing is that very little Bulolo plywood is used in the construction of government buildings in the Territory.

With so many large buildings to go up in the near future— the Port Moresby and Rabaul Courthouses and the Lae Admin istrative block, among other structures the Administration should take action on the situa tion which has arisen in Bulolo.

To put the matter to rights, the Administration should, when calling for tenders, stipulate that all its buildings be lined, or partly lined, with locally-produced ply wood.—Editorial in the “New Guinea Times Courier*’.

THE “assurance” most often voiced by the Minister for Territories, Mr. Paul Has luck, is that “Australia will re main in the Territory (of Papua- New Guinea) as long as the people want us.”

What Mr. Hasluck needs to say is that Australia will remain here until there are highly skilled in digenous businessmen, lawyers, technicians, politicians, economists and so on.

He needs to come out and say Australia would not consider with drawing her developmental acti vity here until such time as our Papuans and New Guineans were well equipped in every way to manage their own affairs, having regard to the great weight of out side investment.

Until that day confidence will continue to ebb and the great struggle to educate and develop will become more of a Govern ment burden. — Editorial in the “South Pacific Post,” Port Moresby.