From the Islands Press

MUCH of the report (of Wes tern Samoa’s Public Accounts Committee for the year ending December 31, 1961) makes sorry reading—a tale of inefficiency, a disregard for the articles of the Constitution, lack of co-operation between departments, and some downright dishonesty.

Monies have been spent in ex cess of appropriations and Cab inet Ministers have exceeded the powers given them by the Consti tution and have ignored recom mendations in previous reports.

There are continuing losses and increasing administration costs due to weaknesses in control and su pervision in various departments.

Perhaps the most disturbing fea ture of the report is the large in crease in dishonesty and irregu larities, involving a total sum in excess of £1,270.

Fifty-five cases occurred in 1961 compared with 17 in the previous year, and of the 55, government employees were involved in 25 of them, which is more than the total number for the three pre vious years.

Altogether the report has not in creased the confidence of the pub lic in the administration or the Government. —Editorial in the “Samoa Bulletin”, Apia.

THE blundering that recently re sulted in $15,000 going down the drain, plus the precious time and sweat lost in the construction of the new terminal building (at Tafuna Airport, American Samoa) must not be allowed to go un noticed.

The forms of pre-stressed con crete that were intended to be the main support of the airport ter minal building were bent in dif ferent angles and somehow upon erection it was discovered that they did not fit. Besides this, the placing of the reinforced steel rods in these forms was such that ap proximately half of the structural strength of these forms was lost.

There are now approximately 60 of these forms lying around at Tafuna at a cost of approximately $280 each which cannot be used.

Who is responsible for this?

The people of the United States

and the people of American Samoa pay in the long run for costly mistakes like this. We must demand of our local administra tion a speedy correction and some sort of safeguard to ensure that this type of waste does not occur again.— Editorial in “News and Views Bulletin,” Pago Pago.

THE mass of material of a sor did nature, made available to our youth as well as the adults of this Colony (of Fiji), has a defi nite detrimental effect upon the thinking of the people who feed upon it.

A perusal of film advertisements reveals so many labelled, “Persons under 17 not admitted”. By the description of many of these films, it often seems a pity that anyone at all is admitted.

In my opinion, the portrayal of lurid, passionate, sensual material glorifying the lower nature of man and woman is one of the reasons for the increase of crime labelled indecency, indecent exposure and indecent behaviour.— Letter from K. J. Tamavua, in “The Fiji Times”.

WHILE attending the new In fant Welfare Clinic in Port Moresby at the same time as a Papuan woman with her baby, I discovered that a very vigorous campaign of non-discrimination was in full swing. We were care fully ushered in the same door, attended by the same sister and ordered similar treatment.

But here the non-discrimination ended. While both our babies were ordered almost the same treat ment, mine was only ordered, the other was GIVEN free, together with a supply of milk, vegemite, bottle and teat.

I am quite prepared to pay for milk, vitamins and medicines that my family needs, and I realise that some of the Papuans are not in a position to do so. But, please, can’t we stop all this nonsense of “There must be no discrimina tion?” There is discrimination, and it is against us!— Letter from “Expatriate Mother” in the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby.