from the Islands Press

THE Suva City Council is to seek authority to bring before the courts the owners of dogs that bark and destroy the sleep of those within earshot.

There could be some nice pro blems when proof comes to be produced that a particular dog was barking at a particular time.

There will have to be witnesses, supported perhaps by photographs of the dog with its mouth open (and evidence that it is barking and not just yawning).

If the noisy dog is away from home, there will be the problem of proving ownership, and if the animal is in enclosed pre mises it will be necessary to show that it lives there and has not strayed from somewhere else.

The idea of sheeting home responsibility for allowing dogs to annoy neighbours is one for which fervent sympathy will be felt by all who have suffered, but drafting an enforceable law will not be easy..— Editorial in “The Fiji Times”, Suva.

HER Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, have graciously presented to the people of Pitcairn two large, autographed, black and white portraits. These most at tractive likenesses now grace the front of our hall.

In his letter of thanks, the Acting Island Magistrate stated that it was very pleasing to know that we, of this small island in mid-Pacific, were remembered by Her Majesty and Prince Philip and that they favoured us with these striking portraits. News item in “Pitcairn Miscellany”.

AUSTRALIA has every reason to be proud of her achieve ments in Papua-New Guinea, as the recent United Nations mission readily acknowledged. But if the necessary rate of development is to be attained, Australia will find its task in the Territory in creasingly difficult to handle alone.

Is this not an opportunity for a combined Commonwealth effort, perhaps through the proposed Commonwealth Secretariat?

Some of the more advanced Commonwealth countries un

doubtedly would be willing and able to help in providing some of the 2,000 professional and technical officers who will be needed for the Territory’s public service. For it is on the success ful recruitment of such key personnel that the implementation of the World Bank’s recom mendations depends, and there is little hope that Australia will be able to supply all of them.— Editorial in the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby.

THE difficulty of running a country without party politics and without a clear majority for Government has again been amply illustrated [in Western Samoa] by the attempts to thwart plans for major tourism develop ment already approved in prin ciple by the House only a few weeks ago . . .

One could discuss the rights and wrongs of development until the cows come home but if this is the attitude to be adopted, the development will never come about. The only way to action is to get solidly behind a project once it has been approved and forget what might have been.

If, as it appears, development is to become merely a part of a political game, and the siting of every brick in the tourist hotel is to become the personal con cern of every MP, then we shall be lucky to get a hotel by 1996 not 1966. Editorial in “Samoana”, Apia.

IT is no secret that gambling goes on in American Samoa.

Most people know where a game is held practically every day in the heart of town. We do not mean the game of billiards or the game of bingo, either. We mean real gambling with the exchange of money just like they do in Reno.

The law enforcement officers probably know where these games are held. Not too long ago, a Chinese version was introduced.

It is now one of the more popular games.

Before we call the attention of outsiders to the fact that gambling is illegal in American Samoa, we

have to make sure that it is being sought out and wiped out from the face of this territory.

Only a few weeks ago, a party attempted to use the court as a collection agency for a gambling debt which involved hundreds of dollars. Editorial in “Samoa News”, Pago Pago.

FURTHER sharp exchanges took place between the Mayor and the councillor with Cr.

Sugrim remaining on his feet when repeatedly asked to sit down. When Cr. Harvie (the Mayor) reached for the gavel, Cr. Sugrim sat down. From report of meeting of Lautoka Town Council, in “The Fiji Times”, Suva.

IT is becoming increasingly

difficult for private students to obtain entry permits abroad without Government sponsor ship. In the case of New Zealand, Her Majesty’s [Tongan] Govern ment has been informed that private students will not as a rule be allowed to enter the Dominion in future unless they have this Government’s support.

Government is anxious that private students should be able to study abroad as in the past and, where official sponsorship is required by an overseas Govern ment (e.g. New Zealand), Her Majesty’s Government is prepared to give this, subject to certain requirements.— Public Notice in the “Chronicle”, Nukualofa.

AMERICAN Samoa’s merchants have continued to expand and improve their businesses during the opening months of 1965, giving the customer a bigger choice of goods than ever before.

Some have both enlarged and repainted their premises. Some have built new storage facilities.

New stores and a new recreation area have been opened. New departments have been set up in several stores and shopping has been made easier through ex tension of self-service facilities.— Editorial in the “Samoa Times”, Pago Pago.