The Editavs Mailbag

Recognising Illegitimacy

Sir, —I read with interest your article on de facto marriages and “illegitimate” off-spring in Fiji (Nov., p. 75). I fear that your correspondent has rather overstated the problem, because I am certain that this is a Pacific-wide matter.

The real difficulty arises where Christian concept of monogamy, and legal registered marriage, are applied to a people whose traditions do not conform to such a view. Mr James Michener brings this conflict out very sharply in the novel, Hawaii— and the film of the novel is again de voted to this theme.

Why concentrate on the rejected waifs of society when there are per sons in high places in Fijian society who would, according to Christian concepts, and the British law, be classed as “illegitimate”? Instances could be cited, but in the present atmosphere which attaches to the word it would be wrong to do so.

By Fijian reckoning, these persons have a legitimate place in Fijian society. Yet, cruelly, if one of their parents died without making a will, the child would be disinherited.

I know the name of UN is much maligned in the Pacific. But the UN charter seeks to abolish illegitimacy; it asks why the child should be punished through no fault of its own.

The child is not responsible for the situation.

The solution would be to pass legislation recognising the special position of illegitimate children in Fiji.

T. S. Sharma.

Shalimar St., Samabula, Suva.

Shortland's Airstrip

Sir, Some time ago, with a number of other interested people, I went up to Ballalae Island, in the Shortlands, to see if the old Japanese airstrip could be cleared and brought back into operation as a civil air field; also to confirm the rumour that there were some Japanese aeroplanes still around.

We set out in the Megapode Air way’s Dove for Mono, which is the nearest airfield, and then proceeded bv boat to Nila, to pick up Father O’Grady, who had volunteered to show us where to find the planes.

We found that on the ground it

was difficult to see that there had been an airfield, but once we had positioned ourselves on the runway we were able to see the runway boundaries, i.e. we could see the limits of the grading that had taken place. From the air, one could tell that on the runway alignment the trees were a slightly lighter shade of green.

The aeroplanes were there alright —a number of Oscar single seat fighters, two or three dive bombers and the remains of an unidentified two- or four-engined bomber. Further up the strip were two more bombers, believed to be Bettys. Also near Nila are some parts of seaplanes and the remains of several four-engined flying boats.

We came to the conclusion that the airfield could be brought back into operation, but of course none of us were surveyors. It would, how ever, be very useful to have a strip in the centre of the Shortlands, and near to Bougainville.

In the war history of the Solomons, very little mention is made of this airfield, yet by its size it seems to have been one of the biggest Japan ese bases in this area.

If any readers can give me any information or pictures for reproduc tion, I would be very grateful. My address for correspondence about the airfield is 11A Jean Street, Largs Bay, South Australia.

H. E. Hall.

Honiara, British Solomons.

Norfolk Island Complaints

Sir, —I am enclosing a copy of a letter I have sent to the Adminis trator of Norfolk Island, following a recent holiday I spent on the island.

It’s as follows: We recently stayed on Norfolk Is land for 17 days. We were greatly impressed by its natural beauty, and appalled by what is being done to mar that beauty.

Tourists are directed to visit Head stone Point, as one place of interest.

We did so, to find that the island’s rubbish is tipped over the cliff there, into the sea, with the result that the headland is littered with bottles, tins, cardboard boxes—anything and every thing. Furthermore, we found that much of this litter was washed by the tide on to Anson Beach.

Why is the rubbish of the island

not deposited in an incinerator, and bottles dealt with in some other fashion? Or don’t the residents care that one of their national assets is being marred in this way?

We were taken by the proprietors of our hotel to two barbecues at Emily Beach. On the first occasion, well before Christmas, there was not much litter, and the remains of our barbecue were deposited in two petrol drums provided. On the second barbecue, we found that the petrol drums had not been emptied, and they were already overflowing before our meal remains had been disposed of.

Can the council not do something about this state of affairs? I imagine that Norfolk Island depends reason ably heavily on its tourist trade, judging by the number of duty-free shops. But it seems to me that little is done for tourists except to en courage them to buy the duty-free goods. We met many people (includ ing many of those at our hotel) who would have shortened their stay had they been able to get places on an aeroplane. But it is not sufficient to count on the fact that once the people arrive, they have to stay.

It will not take long for the tourist bureaux and travel agencies to learn that Norfolk Island has vast dis advantages as a holiday resort. I, for one, intend to give my impres sions to the NSW Tourist Bureau, the Bank of NSW travel agency, and the Pacific Islands Monthly.

We felt also that the hotel in which we stayed provided in food and service nothing comparable with that provided on the mainland at similar prices. I know that this last matter is not one for the Adminis tration, but it is of interest, for it was the feeling of other guests during our stay. And those guests, like me, will recommend holidaymakers to consider carefully before they go to Norfolk Island.

(Mrs.) Nancy Deans.

Castlecrag, NSW.

Tonga's Coronation

Sir, —I would like to convey to Mr. Stuart Inder my appreciation of the report of the Tongan coronation of a few issues back (August, p. 45).

I meant to do this earlier, but have been out of Australia a good deal recently. Of all the reports I read, I thought the report written by Mr.

Inder showed the most understanding of the position in Tonga and was the fairest and most objective.

(Rev.) C. F. Grtbble,

General-secretary.

Methodist Overseas Mission, Sydney.