From the Islands Press

ASSUMING that the new wharf will attract more cruise ships, it is about time something was done to ensure that the com munity gets the maximum benefits from such visits. The truth, un palatable though it may be, is that nobody wants a lot of tourists poking their noses around the place unless they are going to spend some money. If Samoa is going to make a success of the tourist industry then this country has to provide tourists with the opportunity of spending their money and, most important, make this experience as enjoyable and worthwhile as possible for the visitor. . . .

Without greater effort at public relations and evidence of better planning for cruise ship visits, tourism is going to continue .to generate as little enthusiasm and additional cash as the visit of last week. Editorial in “Samoana”, Apia, Western Samoa.

ALL scientists agree that every test of a nuclear weapon increases the radiation being absorbed by our bodies. Radio active dust falls to earth and passes into our bodies whenever we eat vegetables or drink milk.

Because of the bomb tests already carried out no child any where in the world can drink milk that is free from radio-active poison.

Although our voice would have been no more than a squeak on the international level why was it that the last [Norfolk Island] Council did not lodge a protest against the coming French nuclear tests in the South Pacific? —Editorial in “The Norfolk Islander".

THERE is little pleasure in paying money to see a film only to have everything ruined by filthy-mouthed louts who pollute the atmosphere with their obsceni ties. Would it be possible for the police to combine duty with pleasure now and again and direct officers to sit among the audience in the front stalls and “book” some of these offenders?

I’m sure a few prosecutions with some salutary sentences handed out would help to clear the air of our cinemas.

Many tourists visit the cinemas here and many occupy the cheaper seats—for atmosphere, probably.

As several have later complained, the atmosphere has been anything but pleasant and they have gone away shocked at the language used by many boys—and men. . ..

Letter from Meta Hussain, in “The Fiji Times”, Suva.

THE newly-formed Port Moresby Housewives’ Association is having difficulty handling the large number of shopping com plaints from housewives.

Four hints below given by the Housewives’ Association should be an aid to housewives with shopping problems: • Become familiar with the usual price of goods and question any changes; • Refuse to take any inferior quality goods; • Examine all packaged goods before you leave the shop and return immediately any damaged or inferior goods, © If you fail to get satisfactory attention then write to the sec retary of the Housewives’ Asso ciation.—News item in the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby, Papua.

APART from public servants, workers in shops and drivers, there is no law [in Western Samoa] providing for the number of hours per week that should be worked or for the payment of overtime; there is no law provid ing for holiday pay, sick pay or retirement allowance; there is not even a minimum wage; there is no restriction on the employment of children; there are no laws enforcing safety regulations, and the degree of compensation pro vided for workers under the ordinance of 1960 may be gauged from the fact that if a worker is killed in the course of his employment leaving no depen dents, the employer is liable for funeral and medical expenses not exceeding £l5. If the deceased worker leaves dependents the em ployer is liable only to a minimum of £lOO or a maximum of three years’ earnings of £750, which ever is the less.

If a worker feels he is being victimised or has a legitimate grievance, he has no option but to get out and join the growing pool of unemployed.

There are, in fact, few places in the world, where conditions are so favourable for the exploitation of the worker as they are in this country.— Editorial in “Samoana", Apia.

TO all those “Jack Brabham” speedsters who roar around the visitors’ quarters corner; please slow down! You may have no children—but we would like to keep ours alive! Thank you.— Letter from “Worried Parent" in “Pinnacle Posf’, Nauru.

TO the girl who rides a large motorcycle and combs her hair as she passes by each morning, the next time you do this may be the last.— Letter in the “Cook Islands News”, Rarotonga.

SIR, —I was so pleased to see a copy of the BSIP News Sheet . I have such happy memories of the Protectorate, which seemed to me to be as near perfect as any place can be.

My friends in the islands will, however, agree with me that they cannot stand still. At present the Parliament of Great Britain is responsible for the islands, but it has always been our belief in this country that people are hap piest when they govern them selves. Of course we have to learn how to do this and as the countries of the Commonwealth have advanced in skill and ability so the Mother Country has given them parliaments and administra tions of their own. Now nearly all parts of the Commonwealth are self-governing, and the freedom to manage their own affairs which the British Parliament began to give more than a hundred years ago has spread all over the world.

Soon it will be the turn of the British Solomon Islands to govern themselves. Let no one tell me that the islanders are slower or less able to learn than any people in the world. It is to teach them and help them that my fellow countrymen go and live among them.— Part of a letter in the “BSIP News Sheet”, Honiara, from Sir William Robson-Brown, British Conservative MP.