From the Islands Press

JS IS rpHE director of education am fin A is to be congratulated on HH 9B his firm stand with the students who refused to abide by the rules of the Nasinu Teachers’

Training College. If they are not able to abide by and absorb the discipline and moral training in their two years at the college, how can they possibly be suited to give moral guidance and training to the young children they will soon be in charge of? — Letter from Pat Philitoga in ‘‘The Fiji Times”.

LAST Sunday the wife of Chief Ambangsong was badly hurt by a wild pig which she and her husband were hunting. She is recovering in South West Bay.— New Hebrides Newssheet.

THE rate of compensation paid to a landowner for loss of trees destroyed by government is only $2 per bearing tree not sufficient for a family to buy just one meal.

But a single coconut tree could well keep a whole family for several years.

To us, indigenes, the coconut tree is the “tree of life”. Chopping a tree is like chopping off the neck of a member of the family.

Is there any possibility for govern ment to re-consider its present policy rate? If all our coconut trees were one tree, would there be a possibility of chopping it down? — Letter in ‘‘Colony Information Notes ”, Tarawa.

THE gross waste of Cook Islands mandarins is merely another follow-up of the terrible waste of Cook Islands tangarines. Both fruits were boosted and encouraged as an export crop. Now, with both avail able in more than ample quantities, we find no market. Why?

I suggest the reason is an inflexible monopoly operating on principles that are far from businesslike, an antiquated transportation system in the market country which, coupled with the poor business practices of the distributors, does not even permit people of the South Island to see our superior mandarins, and obvious poor market research by the organisation.

Perhaps it’s about time we turned to other markets. How about Fiji, Samoa and Japan?— Letter from W.

H. Hamhuechen in the “Cook Islands News”, Rarotonga.

1 REFER to the letter from the English seeker of a bride ( PIM, Aug.). Just what does Mr. Rex Jacklin take the Gilbertese woman for? People like him who are com plete foreigners ask for stamps, cor respondence, etc., —but seeking a bride through the local newspaper is utter rot. Does he know the right way to seek a bride or not?

I think it is an offence to us Gilbertese women, for it looks as if we are still backward, uncivilised and ignorant. I am sure no parents will just simply give their daughter like that, or any independent woman will agree. I have read different types of newspapers, but I haven’t come across such a publication like Mr.

Rex Jacklin’s. I am surprised this type of letter is published in CIN.— Letter f rom Terenganiuea Taaram in “Colony Information Notes", Tarawa.

TO those members of the public who feel they derive no benefit from tourism, we suggest they take a realistic look at the situation.

Either they believe in Norfolk Island and the future they can all make for themselves in the tourist industry, providing some of the necessary finance, or they must be branded as those who are only here to make the “quick quid”, and have no regard for the future welfare of the island.

Over the next few months chaff will definitely be sorted from the wheat and we sincerely hope that the majority of thinking people will decide that an investment in the tourist promotion fund will not only be for their own benefit but will also be an investment in the future prosperity of all Norfolk Island.— Editorial in “The Norfolk Islander". 1 WITNESSED an amusing spectacle last night, travelling home on the 4-06 from Konedobu. A bus pulled up opposite the Games oval and I spied two obvious Games visitors. I noticed that they politely stood back and let all the locals into the bus first. But when everybody but the visitors were in the bus the driver yelled out: “All right, that’s enough.”

He then threw the bus into first gear and took off leaving the visitors on the road side.

Letter from K. M. H H Fewster in the “P-NG" H H Post-Courier". W m