From the Islands Press

PIDGIN English serves the purpose of communication among peoples who otherwise would be unable to convey their feelings, thoughts and wishes to one another. Just because only a few people speak Solomon Islands Pidgin English, or Gela, does not make these two languages in any way inferior to English or any other language spoken by more people. Letter from Francis Bogutu, Kukum, in the “BSIP News Sheet”.

ONE of the freedoms that we have always enjoyed has been the freedom from financial worries for funeral expenses when some one dies on the island. The main reason why burial is free is be cause Norfolk Island men give up their time to ensure that the grave is dug, and, contrary to public belief, this is not done by the Administration.

We are all faced with the same end, and it would be gratifying to all to see some of our new settlers come forward on these sad occasions and help share the burden that free burial now throws on a handful of men.— Editorial in the “Norfolk Islander”. ris the aim of all planners in underdeveloped countries to bring the country to a stage where it can progress under its own steam. Western Samoa is still a long way from this dream, but the progress being achieved in agriculture and other fields of development over the past year, despite a devastating hurricane, brings the dream closer to realisa tion than ever before.

Over the past months more than 2,000 acres have been newly planted or replanted in coconuts, and village farmers are demanding more seedlings than can at present be supplied; cocoa extension is well under way; the outlook for bananas looks brighter than it has been for years; small crop exports are growing at a rapid rate; the Enterprises Incentives Act is en couraging a growth of local in dustry well up to expectation: and tourism is showing the steady in crease predicted.

All these projects, however, involve a lot of expense before

they start to show returns on any scale. It is virtually impossible for any underdeveloped country to develop its resources out of its own meagre earnings, and it is this fact coupled with the hurricane that disastrously cut Samoa’s export earnings that has prompted the Prime Minister to so effec tively focus the attention of the world on Samoa’s plight by threatening to seek aid from the Communists, if no help is forth coming from the West.— Editorial in “Samoana”, Apia.

F every other country in the world of comparable climate, there is at least a variety of local birdlife. Here on Rarotonga the only bird one sees is the minah bird.

What has happened to the native birds of Rarotonga? With the exception of remote stories of small indigenous finches and pigeons away back in the valleys and mountains, we never see or hear of native birds.

It is understood that minahs were originally brought to this fan land to exterminate a species of insect, which was a threat to some of our local produce. Now, it would appear that this bird has more than substantiated its useful ness, in that it has now become a pest. Minahs are now eating some of the very produce which they have been brought in to protect, as many plantation owners will substantiate.

Fowls cannot be fed without the minahs getting a large share.

Is there nothing we can do to preserve, or promote the restora tion of our few native birds, and eradicate, or at least cut down, on the breeding of minahs?— Reader’s letter in “The Cook Islands News”, Rarotonga.

WITH the end of Laucala Bay as an active flying-boat base close at hand, a demonstration has been given in the past week of the need for, and value of, the mercy missions flown by the RNZAF Sunderlands still stationed at the base, A call to Pukapuka. in the Cook Islands, was followed closely by another to the Tokelaus. In both cases, patients in urgent need of surgery were brought to Apia

Hospital. The Sunderland returned to Laucala Bay and almost at once was called on to fly to Lomaloma to drop blood for a maternity case being treated there.

This contribution to the saving of three lives inevitably raises the question of what will happen when the flying-boats are no longer available at Laucala Bay. . . .

Whether the role now occupied by the flying-boats can be com pletely filled by any other service likely to be available seems doubt ful. It would be reassuring to learn that thought has been given to filling at least part of the gap, and that the service which has meant so much—often life itself— to many will not be just casually abandoned. Editorial in “The Fiji Times”, Suva. early in 1965 a ▼ Bristol crawler tractor, made available by Colonial Develop ment and Welfare assistance, was assembled at Bounty Bay. This was followed on the next ship by a Massey wheel tractor, from the same source. These two units virtually began the era of mechanisation on wheels [on Pitcairn Island].

Within a short space of time, barrow trackways were improved up to dry weather vehicle roads.

The cycling craze caught the younger folk, until now mostly all the school children use these two wheeled concerns, as do some of the island youth. . . .

Further advances were made with the advent of two motor cycles, one of which is often em ployed to tow a small trailer unit.

Inquiries are in hand for gov ernment diesel-driven vehicles in the jeep or Land-Rover class, and although the definite time of arrival is still uncertain, this type of conveyance should further speed up transport within the next year or so. At least one private inhabitant is also very interested in obtaining a four-wheeled vehicle in the near future. However, be fore it is possible to operate motorised transport in all weathers, further improvements will be necessary to consolidate the existing clay roads.

Therefore negotiations are also being made for the early delivery of a semi-mobile rock crushing plant. Editorial in “Pitcairn Miscellany”.