From the Islands Press

FOR some time a Government agency in Western Samoa, Radio Station 2AP, has been advertising cigarettes and tobacco, but according to official sources in spite of their proven health hazards the Government intends to continue encouraging the con sumption of these products by advertising them over the air.

“Our interest is in making money as a commercial broad casting station,” said one official.

“Church leaders are among the heaviest smokers here. Coffee is just as bad as cigarettes. We do not intend to stop advertising cigarettes,” reportedly said a Cabinet Minister.

Rightly so, people should have freedom to choose their own way of living but it hardly seems proper that a Government agency should actively encourage them towards ill health and suffering.— Editorial in “Samoana”, Apia.

WHILE the announcement of a reduction of the government budget for 1965 by four million dollars has not caused people here to panic, it should be a cause for setting a clear-cut economic policy for these islands.

All of us who have lived here through the past 20 years will readily understand the difference and the changes brought about with 30 million dollars. But like dry land that has gone without water for a long, long period, the first rainfall is insufficient to get it to bear vegetation. . . .

It takes years to prepare an economy for the “take off” stage.

It will take decades and genera tions if the preparation is slow, and investment—both government and private—comes in doses.

There must be a constant flow of a sufficiently large amount into the economy in order to get it to “take off” and carry on under its own power. That is why any more cuts in government spending inside the territory should be a matter of concern. It should be pointed out at this instance that not all, and perhaps not even the largest portion of the 30 million dollars, was left to circulate and multiply in the islands.— Editorial in “Samoa News”, Pago Pago.

IT seems that in spite of the emergence many years ago of Japan as a world Power on Western lines, the survival of the legend of a wholly charming “rickshaw and kimono” life is disturbing to the Japanese people who have to face facts.

The same thing happens in other countries. Britons are often exasperated by the false picture created by tourist folders and travel posters of a country of medieval castles, “olde worlde” villages and Yeomen of the Guard. And in the South Pacific a good deal of damage is done by the legend of a South Sea Island paradise of boundless abundance —where nobody would ever dream of working.— Editorial in “The Fiji Times”.

AFTER my fairly extensive travels in the South Pacific during 1963, I feel I am justified in making comparisons of the islands.

Without doubt, I would say that my short stay in Rarotonga has been by far the happiest of my island holidays. The abundance of the island’s own variety of entertainment items, dances, nukus, etc.—was a delightful and absorbing experience.

The beauty of the trees, the flowers, and the people decorated with eis far surpassed what I have seen in other South Pacific islands. And finally, the friendli ness and happiness of the islanders—with whom I was fortunate to spend all my time —made my stay a very memor able experience.— Letter from Michael J. Brown in the “Cook Islands News”.

WE did not think it was proper for the [Acting] Governor of American Samoa to be best man at a local wedding. It is the agreement among all who cared that he exercised poor judgment when he elected to serve as second man. . . .

Samoans have laid down their weapons and put aside their quarrels and have come together to support a central government under a United States administra tion. Those who considered

themselves kings no longer do so.

They have taken second place in their desire to make their US chosen leader the first—and never the second—man on the islands. —Editorial in “Samoa News”, Pago Pago. . , , Two bull-kittens * and three shemales, all extremely beautiful ship-trained kittens sired by handsome pedigree Fijian wharf-cat. Ideal present for kind-hearted child (if such exists) or would make good Madrasi curry. Contact Moana raoi.—Advertisement in Gilbert and Ellice Islands “Colony In formation Notes”.

IF Tahiti had not existed, it would have been necessary to invent it for literature.— News item in “Le Journal de Tahiti”.

IT is unwise to generalise from one year’s statistics, but the 1963 population figures offer distinct hope that the potentially disastrous steepness of Fiji’s population increase has begun to flatten out.

Immigration restrictions and the progressive “localisation” of jobs in the Colony must have played some part in reducing the overall increase, but in the case of the Indian and Fijian com munities, there has been a distinct drop in the birth rate.

The results will, to the great advantage of Fiji and the happiness of a great many of its people, show themselves in future years in lessened pressure on the Colony’s land and resources, in greater ability to match demand with availability of rewarding work and of schools and medical services, in better health of many mothers and children, and in relief of the crippling financial burden now borne by parents of large families anxious to give their children good food, good educa tion and a decent upbringing in comfortable surroundings.

The pity is that the Colony wide family planning campaign now becoming effective did not start long ago.— Editorial in “The Fiji Times”.