From the Islands Press

THE longer I remain in Samoa the more I come to the con clusion that the Samoans would be much better off today if they had eaten the missionaries and first settlers who came to these islands instead of welcoming them.

The first palagis and all those who have followed them came to these islands warped by the un natural restrictions, the bitter prudery and prejudice of our “civilised” society, and had the gall to enforce this unfortunate way of living on the Samoans.

And the palagi in his wisdom pointed out that if the Samoan was a good worker and worked very hard for a long time then he might some day take a holiday and enjoy the freedom of the sun, beaches and palm trees.

They took a people who lived simply, happily and innocently in a beautiful culture evolved over hundreds of years and taught them how to complicate their lives, how to be ashamed and how to distrust their own feelings . . .

Without the palagi the Samoan would never have known it was not natural that they spend most of their lives enjoying themselves in the freedom of the sun, beaches and the palm trees; that it was far better to close themselves up in offices and factories and work so that they could earn the money to buy the food they could have taken off the trees in the first place and the clothes which they did not really need.

The tragic thing about it is that once started it could not be stopped and today we are com mitted to continue the destruction of the Samoan way of life,— Letter in the American Samoan section of the ‘‘Samoa Timesf’, A via.

SUVA is experiencing a building boom bigger than anything the city has previously experienced.

Planners and architects are handling, at a rough guess, about £4 million-worth of new building —hotels, a bank, a 13-storey block of flats, a new restaurant, a new fire station—and there are more buildings in the offing.

The last few years have seen big changes. The CML Building was something Suva had never seen before.

Such a boom augers well. It shows as nothing else can the faith which investors have in the future of the city and Fiji, and faith in the continuing political and financial stability of the country.

But enthusiasm for change, for new buildings, should not be allowed to get out of hand . . .

Unless there is careful planning, central Suva could emerge as just another city of concrete canyons; an asphalt jungle differing neither in character nor in appearance from any other capital city any where in the world.— Editorial in ‘‘Fiji Times”, Suva.

WHEN a little girl on Emau grows up she will always remember on what day the New Hebrides’ first census was taken.

When the enumerators called for the household schedules they found a baby girl had been born on May 28. She was named “Cenite”, which means Census Day and her name was added to the household schedule.— News item in the ‘‘British Newsletter”, Vila.

THE new minimum wage rates in American Samoa are enough to give most Apia busi nessmen heart failure on the spot.

Fish cannery workers in Pago now get a minimum of $1.05 per hour, rising to $l.lO next June.

Stevedores get 55 cents an hour, carpenters 70 cents rising to 80 next June, and shop assistants 80 cents an hour rising to 85 next June.

It takes the average American Samoan less than two days to earn what the Western Samoan gets in a week!— Columnist’s item in the ‘‘Apia Advertiser”, Western Samoa.

IN the Cook Islands the rhinoceros beetle is not a problem and we hope that it never does become such. Let’s stop to consider, though, just why this is so. Fumigation is strictly en forced, quarantine practised, an educational programme is under taken. and legislation provides penalties for infringement of strict controlling laws. Consequently there is no problem.

It has been stated also that lung cancer is no problem in the Cook Islands. Does that mean that we should wait until it does become the dreadful curse that we know it is in such countries as Great Britain, the United States and many others? Certainly we hope not! Surely we should learn from the experience of others. In these fair islands it never need become a problem. Wise people will do their best to prevent a disease entering if they know the facts and are also shown a way to pre vent smoking which is the major cause of lung cancer.— Letter from K. J. Gray in the “Cook Islands News”, Rarotonga.

THERE are indications that local youngster Stephen (Bing) Simpson has started a new sport, boomerang throwing, on the is land. Last Saturday afternoon no less than five persons were enjoy ing themselves in “Thompson’s” paddock engaged in this unique skill.

Often over the years boys at the island school have attempted to fashion boomerangs from wood and to learn to throw them.

“Bing”, however, carried on his interest and finally wrote to the mainland and secured a properly made boomerang.— News item in the “Signal”, Lord Howe Island.

IF any doubt exists that the legendary Sadie Thompson lived in one of the wettest areas on earth, a rainfall report from the Department of Public Works for fiscal year 1965 should dispel all questions.

From June, 1964, through June, 1965, a total of 235.65 inches of rain fell in Pago Pago.

The report also confirmed that rainfall widely varies in American Samoa. For instance, Faga’alu Reservoir recorded 215.09 inches for the same fiscal year; Faga’alu Stream, 144.39 inches and Aoa Heiehts, 97 inches.

The most rain in any one month of the fiscal year fell at Faga’alu Reservoir, in December, 1964—a total of 36.67 inches.

In the event somebody is think ing in terms of records, the heaviest rainfall for one year in an area occurred in Cherrannunji, India, where 1,041 inches fell.— News item in the ‘‘News Bulletin”, Pago Pago.