from the Islands Press

AS another school year ends, another several thousand youths and girls on the threshold of their adult life will start look ing for jobs. They will find little comfort in the general situation in Western Samoa as they trudge from place to place only to face another “No Vacancy” sign.

It is generally acknowledged that unemployment is becoming a serious problem that will be even more serious in the im mediate future. The fact that the problem is more serious now, and apparently just as far from solution as it was three years ago, reflects little credit on three years of independent government.

Editorial in “Samoana”, Apia.

DEAR CUSTOMERS: The fresh food ex the Cap Vilano was distributed to retail stores on November 18 and it is hoped that we are now over the difficult period in shipping which has kept our freezers bare for the last few months.

Unfortunately, time did not allow butter and cheese to be loaded owing to the strict packag ing requirements of the Queens land authorities. However, we hope to secure a quantity of those two items from another source in the near future.

We would request that you do not “stock pile” fresh food at home since the retail freezer stocks are only replenished once per week, and it means that many people miss out if they are unable to be at the store when the goods arrive. You also run the risk of loss through a fridge failure. Let the Wholesale Society take that risk.— Advertisement in “Colony Information Notes”, a newsletter of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

LAST week [mid-November] the traditional leaders of Tutuila and Manu’a, holding the same titles their fathers held 60 years ago when they willingly ceded their islands to the United States, once again declared for all the world to know that their people are American, and do not wish to be anything else.

The deeply-rooted American identification does not stem from

the appreciation for the current development programme made possible by American millions, neither does it stem from a desire to keep the American dollars flowing in. It is the thinking instilled into the Samoans of Tutuila and Manu’a through years of living with Americans, and receiving their education, medical care, protection, and to a certain extent their religion from Americans. Editorial in “Samoa News”, Pago Pago.

WE in Fiji are a disunited conglomeration of different races, all speaking enthusiastically about unity, yet all professing a morbid attachment to racialist terms such as “indigenous Fijian”, '’Fiji Indian”, etc.

The term “Fijian” is a natural choice for a collective description of the peoples of Fiji, and I deplore the emotional arguments that are advanced against such a name. Letter from “Non- Aligned” in “The Fiji Times”, Suva.

Although Pago Pago is only a small seaport by all usual standards, it has a fair number of stores for its size, many of which make available an excellent selection of fine quality merchandise. A casual visitor to the downtown area, however, little suspects this at first glance.

The outsides of many com mercial buildings are in need of repairs and painting. Many stores have interiors that require renova tion, new fixtures, and better furnishings. The entire downtown section, in short, has a sloppy appearance.

This state of affairs does little to inspire confidence in the business community on the part of local people and visitors. It does even less for the pride people like to have in their home town and for their morale. — Editorial in the “Samoa Times”, Pago Pago.

IAM sure that the recent suggestion that Indians and Chinese in the Colony be called Fijians would not have met with so much outspoken criticism if they had shown previous evidence of becoming Fijians.

Instead of taking on a new character in their new home, the majority have generally clung fanatically to the customs, dress and language of their countries of origin.— Letter from “Pro-Fijian” in “The Fiji Times”.

A MATTER of considerable anxiety to the people of Papua-New Guinea and one which contains grave risks as the tension between Australia and Indonesia increases—is the fact that the ground survey of the border between us and West Irian is still unsettled.

Last week [late November] Sir Robert Menzies said: “If Indo nesia invaded our side of New Guinea with force of arms we would resist them with force of arms”.

But it is important to know what it is we are prepared to fight over.— Editorial in the “South Pacific PoM”, Port Moresby.

THERE has been an improve ment : in the " appearance of Goroka in the past month. Along with road improvements have come better drainage for the roads and bigger access to clear storm water.

Over in West Goroka another change in the landscape is taking place in the form of parkland.

Soon to open is the Goroka Local Govt. Council’s new market.

Yes, there have been quite a few changes in Goroka, and there will be more, but the most atrac tive has been the womenfolk, who, under the expert hands of our new hairdresser, Beverley Casey, are pleasing to the eyes of all.— From “Town Talk” in the “Goroka District Newsletter”.

PLEASE, when you come to the hospital out-patient section with the intention of collecting medicines such as cough mixture or any other mixture, please kindly come with a bottle.

I am certain that most, or in fact, all homes have lots of empty bottles lying around to suit the purpose.

Lastly, but not least, please bring a clean bottle. It is noticed that most people come with dirty bottles with oil residue, etc. My duty is to dispense medicines, not to clean your dirty bottles for you.— Public notice signed by P.

Kakauhemoana, Assistant Dis penser, in the Niue Newsletter”.