From the Islands Press

BOTH Hindi and Fijian are languages in which, under normal circumstances, gentle and light tones are used, except only by the under-educated, the boorish and the angry, who in their turn are regarded by their fellows as offending seriously against the traditions of the race.

Normally in our parliamentary squabbles in Fiji we have adopted the practice of using smooth and gentle language.

That fact makes it all the more amazing that during the recent Legislative Council session there was such an open display of harsh language and such an open dis play of ill manners in the council.

All races seem equally guilty.— Letter from H. E. Snell, Suva, in “The Fiji Times”.

MANY criticisms can be made, but, overall, 1965 has been a year of significant achievement for the Territory [of Papua-New Guinea].

It has seen the House of Assembly, with its majority of native members, complete its first year. And it is evident that it has begun to make an impact on the political consciousness of the people.

The establishment of a select committee of the House to draft a constitution for the Territory will do much to reinforce this consciousness.

In the economic sector a good many of the World Bank’s recom mendations have been implement ed, including the setting up of a developmental bank to provide credit to foster industry and agri culture.

But perhaps the most important of all is the extension of educa tional facilities —the Territory’s first university, an institute for higher technical education, an agricultural college and new forestry school. — Editorial in the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby.

THE death of three children on Tutuila [American Samoa] roads in less than a week calls attention to something that we have noticed for a long time —the presence on the island of many

dangerous drivers. As long as these people have only near accidents, they are permitted to continue driving.

While the roads become more crowded with vehicles and children become more numerous, the loss of life will increase rather than decrease unless drastic measures are adopted right now to prevent this.

We recommend that the Gov ernment organise safe driving classes for traffic violators, and that they be given a choice be tween attending the classes or payment of their fines.

To build traffic safety on a long-range basis, driver educa tion should be made part of the high school curriculum in Ameri can Samoa. Bad driving habits are usually acquired early in life, therefore high school is the ideal place for the teaching of good driving practices.— Editorial in the “Samoa Times”, Pago Pago.

SMOOTHLY and without fuss, in a model of efficient co ordination, a United States heli copter yesterday brought a young Fijian patient from Beqa to Laucala Bay, and in another few minutes the boy was safely at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.

If the oceanographic ship Seageant Curtis F. Shoup had not been at Suva, the mercy mission would have been carried out with equal willingness and efficiency, but with more difficulty, by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Sunderland . . .

Fifteen years ago and more, a few people in Fiji were busily emphasising and re-emphasising the possibilities that might lie in the use of helicopters in Fiji . . .

Such people were too often re garded as dealers in fantasies.

Yesterday the voice of ex perience was heard when Dr.

L. A. Phillips commented: “We need one of those things. It has a range of 400 miles and is very easy to maintain”.

The need for “one of those things” will become urgent when the last Sunderland is withdrawn from Fiji.— Editorial in “The Fiji Times”.