from the island press

IN ancient Rome, the authorities organised frequent circuses complete with gladiators and martyred Christians to divert the populace. In Apia there are any number of holidays, but all too frequently the public finds little special about the break—there is still nothing much to do.

Apart from the growing number of beer halls about the town, Apia admittedly has a long way to go to become as corrupt as Rome, and there is no real need as yet to divert the attention of the public away from affairs of state.

Yet this is no real excuse for the lack of Government participation, and generally haphazard organisa tion of this year’s annual inde pendence holiday activities.

Editorial in “Samoana ”, Apia.

LACK of sea communications have so far hindered the progress of the family planning project in the [Gilbert and Ellice Islands] Colony, according to the latest Health Education Report.

The withdrawal of the jet launch for repairs has stopped the health workers from visiting villages on North Tarawa, and the paucity of sea communications with over seas countries have delayed the arrival of further supplies of necessary equipment.

So far family planning has received enthusiastic support from outer islands which have requested extension of the services in methods and techniques. Funafuti has been supplied with all the necessary equipment on the loop method, and details of the rhythm method have been sent to the District Commissioner in the Ellice Islands.

Mrs. P. Ranford, of Funafuti, who has received family planning training in England, has offered her services to work voluntarily in the Ellice Islands. New a item in “Colony Information Notes", Tarawa. the benefit of those who A are not familiar with the coconut wireless, it might be ex plained that the Pacific islands are known for their ability to dis seminate news without the use of radio broadcasts, and news papers, or other modern forms of communications.

It simply means that the Islands people possess the gift of passing news around. But . . . this medium cannot be relied on for accuracy. —From an editorial in the “Niue Newsletter”. fpHERE have been complaints that sheets and towels are not changed regularly at a certain hotel [on Norfolk Island].

If a guest stays for a week or a fortnight, the sheets, towels and so forth are not changed until he or she departs. The tablecloths are not changed either, for very long periods. Some free publicity will be accorded this establish ment ... if there is not a marked improvement. Columnist’s item in the “Norfolk Islander".

T>RAVO for your article against -L* the wearing of ties in your issue for May 25. To have to wear a suit and tie in Tahiti is as silly as wearing a coconut shirt in Paris at Christmas time.— Reader’s letter in “Le Journal de Tahiti", Papeete.

I WILL pay at least $lO for any Australian penny bearing the date 1930. I am willing to pay much more than this for a penny in good condition. Please write to John Harris, LMS, Betio.

Advertisement in “Colony Infor mation Notes”, Tarawa, GEIC. [Editors’ note: Three 1930 Australian pennies were sold to a buyer in Melbourne in May for $1,700 —one of them fetching a record $7OO. Only about 1,000 1930 pennies were minted.] THE American President, Mr.

Johnson, has said that a country that wants to become great cannot be a divided country.

What great truth and essence there is in this brief sentence of his . . .

Of the colony of Fiji, Mr.

Johnson’s statement applies word for word. The views, ways of living, food and the culture and customs of the people are already different on one hand, but on the other hand, their political feelings are also kept separate and divided . . .

The only way of creating unity in the country is through common

voting rights, that is, by removing the communal systems of voting and establishing the common roll system of voting. All the citizens should have equal rights . . . The Federation Party is demanding equality for ail the races.— Editorial in “Jagriti”, Indian language newspaper, Suva, Fiji.

BECAUSE Fiji’s affairs and her progress in accordance with the wishes of her inhabitants were explicity explained to the United Nations Committee on Colonial ism, we are surprised that ... it was again urged in that committee that Fiji be granted independence.

It is regrettable and amazing that those who do not know Fiji’s affairs well should be meddling with matters concerning this country and are advocating that what we do not want should be forced on us. Editorial in “Volugauna”, Fiji-language news paper, Suva, Fiji.

THOUGH the [recently opened Pacific Theological] College is situated in Fiji, it will draw its students from throughout the South Pacific.

This will play a part in encouraging the growth of the feeling of identity among Pacific peoples which has found particular expression in recent years in the South Pacific Conferences and the First South Pacific Games.

Whether or not the University of the South Pacific comes into being in the form envisaged by the Morris Mission, the Pacific Theological College will be in its own right an institution of higher learning, comparable to the Fiji School of Medicine.

If a full university does come about, these two, with the Teachers’ Training College and the Derrick Technical Institute, will fit naturally and properly into the fabric of the larger institution.

Though the studies at the col lege will be concerned primarily with aspects of Christian belief, the study of other religions must necessarily have a place in the curriculum.

Nothing but good can come from knowledge and understand ing of other beliefs, particularly in a country such as Fiji, where a variety of races and religions is a basic feature of the population.— Editorial in "The Fiji Times ”, Suva.