From the Islands Press

IAM concerned at the lack of wisdom displayed in the policy of allowing indiscriminate migra tion to New Zealand by Cook Islanders, as it has serious re percussions both for New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

Due to the excessive emigration, the islands of the group are be coming increasingly depleted of those sections of the population which are vital for their survival and advancement.

On my recent visit to my home island, Aitutaki, I was alarmed by the exceedingly large numbers of people who had migrated to New Zealand. Approximately 400, of a population just exceeding 2,500 in 1963, had sailed for New Zealand, and most of these were in the younger age group.

This excessive loss of the youth ful population undermines the hopeful future of Aitutaki and the remaining islands of the group.

It is regarding this aspect that some form of restriction should be placed on emigrants between the ages of 15 and 25.

As a Cook Islander I am aware that Cook Islanders are legally New Zealanders and are therefore entitled to enter the country, but it is surely in our interest that depopulation of our islands should be avoided.— Letter from a Cook Islander in the New Zealand Press, reprinted in the “Cook Islands News”, Rarotonga.

AUSTRALIA’S newly-announced

policy to allow coloured technicians to enter the territory [of Papua-New Guinea] for limited periods will be welcomed by all those who want to see industry and technology move at a faster rate here.

So long as it means that new skills and increased efficiency will be passed on to natives then it is a move to be commended.

In many industries, it is probably the only way that the country will be able to get the necessary specialised knowledge.

With the general full employ ment in Australia, despite a recent setback, the territory is not likely to be able to attract the required skills from there . . .

The danger in the new policy,

of course, is that the new arrivals will try to avoid returning to their homelands and might establish an additional multi-racial society through inter-marriage.

Officially, at least, the Govern ment now seems satisfied that safeguards in selection and limited terms of employment will avoid the problems experienced in such places as Fiji and Mauritius.— Editorial in the “South Pacific Post”, Port Moresby.

THERE is need for a fresh ap proach to the question of regulating shopping hours.

Fiji’s present system of fixing rigid limits for opening and closing and varying these only by a ponderous system of occasional relaxation or extension in special circumstances suits an unenterpris ing trader very well, because it confines his more lively competitor to the same straitjacket of time and prevents him from seeking ways of meeting the particular needs of customers and adapting service hours to these needs.

It is curious that the strongest opponents of flexibility in trading hours are often to be found among the ranks of those who trumpet most loudly the virtues of private enterprise. They should be the first to welcome release from the shackles of fixed trading hours.— Editorial in “The Fiji Times”, Suva.

TIME is running out on us. The [United States] Trusteeship of the Pacific Islands is wearing out as a political arrangement. The people of these islands have a sense of their identity and direc tion in this modern world. To continue a people indefinitely as wards or political dependents is inconsistent with our common belief in self-determination ...

Statement by High Commissioner W. R. Norwood in the “Micro nesian Reporter”, Saipan, Mariana Islands.

ONLY through racial integration can one nation be formed in Fiji. Even the Federation leaders at times speak of racial unity and formation of one nation to con tinue their leadership. But they work against unity . . .

Multiracially, Mr. A. D. Patel [leader of the Federation Party] cannot continue his leadership.

That is why he is making a show of being a leader by calumniating the country of Fiji and the Indian community by forming an Indian group.

The leader of the Federation should change his political policy with time. If he is unable to quit his obstinate habits, then the Indian farmers and the workers should put him out from leader ship, otherwise he will ruin them in protecting the business class.— Editorial in “Kisan Mitra”, Hindu stani weekly, Lautoka, Fiji.

THIS newssheet has purposely not reported accidents and near-accidents that have occurred in recent months because it has been felt that such reporting would not benefit our community. But such accidents, nearly all occurring on Friday nights on the way home from clubs, have not passed unnoticed by the com munity. Soon someone is going to be killed.— Editorial in the Lord Howe Island “Signal”’.

ALL Tutuila residents will miss the symbolic beauty of the gigantic Christmas star atop Mount Alava this year. Last year the coastguard vessel Cape Pro vidence reported seeing it clearly from far out to sea, and an ad miring tourist from a holiday Matson liner commented that it “looked like the original Christmas star all over again.”

The star cannot be erected this year because over the intervening 365 days the wires, sockets and bulbs have been stolen.— News item in the “Daily Bulletin”, Pago Pago.

THE Condominium postmaster has been informed by mem bers of the Advisory Council that government mail bags are often used in some islands for carrying copra. Some people even cut the bags open and use them as canvas covers.

The Condominium postmaster asks any person who sees a mail bag being used in this manner to report the incident to the nearest post office, police office or district agent.— ltem in the “British Newsletter”, Vila, New Hebrides.

LAST October (p. 72), a PIM staff writer suggested that, because of a current world short age of natural sulphur, the time might again be ripe to investigate the commercial possibilities of the sulphur deposits on Vanua Lava Island in the Banks Group of the New Hebrides.

The article pointed out that the Vanua Lava deposits had been known to exist for more than 80 years; that an attempt was made to exploit them round the turn of the century; and that although various people had surveyed the deposits since then —usually re porting on them enthusiastically— no one had yet been able to turn them into money.

The article quoted one visitor, T. J. McMahon, as recording in the early 1920’s that Vanua Lava was “one huge mass of pure sulphur from ocean shores to summit;” that the sulphur was everywhere and seemingly illimi table; that a golden mist pervaded the air because of it; and that the island’s waterfalls were like “flashing gold," etc., etc.

The article attracted quite a deal of attention, possibly be cause of the extravagance of Mr.

McMahon’s language. One man, a New Hebrides hand, came into PlM’s office to ask if we knew who might be interested in ex ploiting the sulphur because he was interested in going into partnership with them.

Another man wrote from Noumea expressing interest; while the Senior Government Geologist in the New Hebrides, Mr. Arthur Warden . buttonholed PlM’s As sistant Editor about the article when he visited Vila in December.

A fourth reader, Mr. Doug Askew, found the article so in teresting that he forthwith sat down at his typewriter to indite an epistle about it.

Mr. Askew, who now lives at Samarai, Papua, spent four years on Vanua Lava in the thirties in vestigating the commercial pos sibilities of the sulphur deposits; and he claims that, even after all these years , he is “still the best informed bloke extant about those damn deposits".

Mr. Askew’s gossipy views about Vanua Lava are set out in the ac companying article. Also on these pages are the views of Mr.

Warden.