from the Islands Press

THE speed with which taxis and buses traverse the roads of Viti Levu should be curtailed until such time as the less com plicated sections of the roads are sealed.

At the present time from a tourist’s, and I dare say, from a local user’s, point of view, the roads in the Colony are extremely dangerous.— Letter from Geoffrey J. Wood, Melbourne, in “The Fiji Times”, Suva.

IF [Western Samoa’s] Cabinet was embarrassed, and it certainly should have been, by the picketing of Parliament House [on February 2] by hundreds of people demonstrating against the high cost of living, then it has only itself to blame.

The fundamental reason for the demonstration is that Cabinet, and Parliament for that matter, have failed to bring the people into their confidence. Heavy taxes have been imposed; the people have been asked to make great sacrifices; and still they have not been told why these sacrifices are necessary and what they might achieve.

It is no wonder that after waiting patiently for three years for some positive action from the Government in bettering their lot, the people have finally reached the stage where some of them have decided to let the Gov ernment know in no uncertain manner that some action had better be forthcoming soon or a lot of MP’s will be losing their seats. — Editorial in “Samoana”, Apia.

THE Army in Papua-New Guinea has come a long way in the past few years. . . .

But as fast as it is moving, there is reason to conjecture whether the pace is fast enough.

Despite the tremendous success of the integration of the Papua- New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, our total CMF is little more than 550 men in companies spread throughout the Territory. . . .

The Army in undeveloped countries such as Papua-New Guinea has a significance which goes beyond the sphere of

defence. Its far greater value is education, activity, purpose— the need to increase this in every possible way is a real need.

This country’s greatest asset is its manpower. And yet at present almost half of the adult male population is not engaged in any activity at all. . , .

The role which the Army could play in this Territory in terms of giving incentive to an otherwise aimless section of the population has endless possibili ties.-—Editorial in the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby.

THE US Government has to pay for the world’s largest military establishment, an enormous foreign aid programme, a world-wide diplomatic corps, membership in the United Nations, numerous other items commensurate with its domestic and international re sponsibilities.

The Government of American Samoa has no comparable re sponsibilities. Yet this Govern ment charges almost the same tax rates as the Federal Govern ment.—Editorial in the “Samoa Times”, Pago Pago.

IT is hereby notified for gen eral information that Her Majesty’s Government [of Tonga] recently received applications on behalf of members of the public wishing to travel abroad who had outstanding debts with Gov ernment departments.

The Government’s policy in such cases is that residents of Tonga will not as a rule be permitted to leave the Kingdom (on what is frequently expensive travel) until they have obtained financial clearance from Govern ment departments.

Exceptions to this rule are persons travelling on urgent medical grounds, so certified by the Chief Medical Officer.— Public notice in the “Chronicle”, Nukualofa.

THE average weight of an airline passenger is 140 lb, plus 66 lb of baggage, a total

of 206 lb or 6,592 half oz.

Further calculation shows that 6,592 oz at 3/7 per half oz, which is the airmail rate [from Tarawa, GEIC] to London, amounts to £1,252.

The first-class air fare to London from Tarawa, including all extras, is, I understand, £593, so that the Post Office is charging the public £659 more to send a few bags of paper than the air lines charge to send a first-class passenger. The difference to New Zealand is £339, and to Australia £484.

When aerogrammes are con sidered the profiteering is still more blatant, remembering that aerogrammes are all a standard size, about six to the half oz and can be packed in a very small bundle. At six to the half oz, that is six shillings, the equal cost by air would be £2,097 as against the first-class air fare of £539, a difference of £1,504.

The Postmaster’s explanation, I am sure, would be appreciated by all who have to write to overseas.— Letter from “Nimbus” in the GElC’s “Colony Informa tion Notes”.

ONCE again people [in Fiji] have been alarmed un necessarily by fatuous, nebulous warnings of giant waves follow ing earthquakes thousands of miles away.

Another of these silly “it might happen, it might not” messages was put out on Thursday evening following an earthquake some where in the area of the Aleutian Islands at the top of the North Pacific.

Surely the thing to do is to wait until the wave is known to be on its way before giving warning. There’ll be plenty of time in which to act.

As Aesop pointed out centuries ago, this stupid business of cry ing “wolf” causes more harm than good.— Columnist’s item in “The Fiji Times”.

THERE are some funny laws still on the statute books in New Britain. Under one law, a native can still be arrested for wearing a wet shirt.— Columnist’s item in the “New Guinea Times- Courier”, Lae.