Form the Islands press

THE tremendous interest gener ated by the marathon race on Saturday; the record number of entries in the annual tennis championships; the proposed cricket and rugby tours to New Zealand and the fund-raising acti vities to send a Samoan team to the South Pacific Games are all symptomatic of the rapidly-grow ing interest and activity in all fields of sport in this country [Western Samoa].

The remarkable thing about this upsurge of sporting activity is that it is occurring in spite of the dismal facilities available.

There is not one sport, be it rugby, soccer, tennis, hockey, athletics or even golf that has anywhere near adequate facilities for play, let alone dressing rooms, showers or toilets that players have a right to expect and that without which it is only insulting to invite teams from overseas.— Editorial in “Samoana”, Apia, Western Samoa.

IT is clear from reading and hearing statements by some of the election candidates [for Fiji’s new Legislative Council] that they do not understand the nature and extent of the constitutional change which is to occur as a result of the agreement reached at last year’s London constitutional con ference.

Their policy declarations are studded with such things as, “I will get the Government to do this,” or “The Government must build more roads,” or “I will demand that the Government in troduce free and compulsory education.”

The impression conveyed is that “the Government” is some remote being which can be ordered about and which controls a bottomless cornucopia from which money and services and trained men women can be drawn at will and without limit.

It has apparently not yet dawned on these candidates (or on many of those whom they address) that the Government will in future be recruited almost wholly from the elected members of the Legislative Council. . . .

The candidates now presenting themselves to the electors should be saying not, “I will get some

body else, called the Government, to do this,” but, “I have the ability and qualifications and a proven record of integrity and admini strative skill which fits me to be part of a group, called the Government, which will direct and control your affairs, as citizens of Fiji, and affect your lives and those of your children.— Editorial in “The Fiji Times”, Suva. 1 THINK that we should change the name of our country because many people do not think of Papua and New Guinea as one whole country. If there was one name instead of two names, there would be no division of the people.

There would be no reason for people to say “1 am a Papuan” or “1 am a New Guinean”. There is often fighting between Papuans and New Guineans over silly things. . . .

If we do not change the name, this fighting between Papuans and New Guineans might go on for ever. It is like a bad habit, and, unless we get rid of it, our country will not grow strong in the future. —Letter from James Ketengnu, Goroka, in “Our News”, Port Moresby.

IT was reported on the radio [in Papua-New Guinea] re cently that the first prosecutions in the playing card ordinance were brought against some natives playing a game known as “Lucky”.

Allow me to point out that the game of “Lucky” is essentially a game of gambling. Consequently it was covered by previous ordinances.

The present ordinance intro duced in the House of Assembly banning all card playing is a dictator’s idea on the rights of the people. Only the other day, a Methodist minister’s wife said to me, “Does that mean that my children cannot play Grab?” I had to assure her that this was indeed the case. —Letter from Lance H. Wilkinson, Samarai, in the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby.

THE noise during the pictures, mainly on Saturday nights, has to be heard to be believed.

At times it is impossible to fol low the dialogue.

Is it not possible to stop the pictures, turn on the lights, and refuse to continue the filming until those responsible (mainly children) either leave the theatre or undertake to be quiet?— Reader's letter in “Pinnacle Post”, Nauru.

NORFOLK Island is fortunate in having what must be some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world. Norfolk Island is also fortunate in that up until now, access to any part of the coast has been available to all—no one has ever objected to what in other places would be called trespassing.

With the advent of so many land transactions, are we now to be confronted with fences and “keep out” signs?

Access to some of the most popular fishing grounds is through private property. As Council is currently discussing land sub division, can it, by legislation, preserve for all time the freedom of access to these fishing and picnic spots—freely enjoyed by all since 1856? —Editorial in the “Norfolk Islander”.

THE Treasury Department has often noticed marks, words and even names of people written or printed on currency notes. The public are hereby advised that it is illegal to deface currency notes and action will be taken against any person knowing to have done so. —Public notice in “Tohi Tala Niue”, a Niue newsletter.

WHEN are the people who make rules about burning the watersheds which are the life of [Rarotonga] going to enforce these rules? When will burning become an offence so serious that every citizen will understand its consequences? When will both parents and schools educate children to the waste and danger of watershed fires, and punish those that cause fires so that it won’t be repeated?

Year after year, as erosion progresses and the forest recedes alongside the burned hillsides, the water supply becomes more en dangered, the soil less and less.

Education and strict controls will be the only measures that can save the receding watersheds.— Editorial comment in the “Cook Islands News”, Rarotonga.