Islands Press

From the Islands Press

From the Fiji Times: . , A quarter of a ton of biscuits burned to cinders at a Lautoka factory when the Fiji Electricity Authority cut off the power supply. Bakery workers were unable to get the biscuits out of the $50,000 automated oven and black smoke from

the charred biscuits filled the factory.

From Niue Island's Tohi Tala Niue: The administrative area is getting a real facelift at present. What with park benches under the trees on the green, the road being upgraded and rolled and new urinals in the public toilets, it is almost enough to make one flush with excitement.

From the Arawa Bulletin, Bougainville: It is now six months since the central government deferred the establishment of an Arawa Town Council. Your town, Arawa, is rapidly becoming the second largest in Papua New Guinea, and yet it is administered by a government appointed commissioner who lives in Kieta, a BCL-appomted commissioner who must follow 'he company line, a village-appointed commissioner who has never been sighted and finally your gallant features editor who is the only elected commissioner in the whole town. Who would have the audacity to call it representative or democratic?

From a letter by "Disappointed" in Cook Islands News: I am writing to say that I want to write you a letter, but I want to read it in print. ... I hope I shall receive my paper tomorrow or the next day so that I can read this letter if you print it. When I am sure of receiving the paper I pay for, I will write to you regularly.

From a letter by Abel Buie in the New Hebrides Nakamal: Many people say old times were best . . .

This is a matter of opinion. Some like to know and worry a lot. What you don’t know you don t miss and so don’t have to worry. We used to be guided my our missionaries and planters and occasional D.A. who dropped by to see that everything was alright.

These people lived a long time in the New Hebrides ? and understood us. Now it is different. Most D.A. s are only here for a brief visit. They are like tourists, collect shells and artifacts.

From Papua New Guinea Post-Courier: Two cars assigned to the Fijian Minister's party broke down. It seems that the batteries were flat because the air-conditioners were kept on with the engines switched off. Ah well, it's nice to be coo!

A leading article in The Fiji Times: A comment by Suva’s Mayor, Cr Isireli Vuibau, that people ignore anti-litter laws because the penalties

are too light is a sad reflection on citizens’ attitudes.

Many of the people who casually throw litter about the streets of Suva and other Fiji centres are probably the types who commonly accuse their council and the government of failing to do enough for them.

Their lack of civic pride is symptomatic of a disturbing worldwide trend towards the breakdown of community and national standards. A tightening-up of discipline is necessary to keep Fiji clean and to make all citizens aware of their responsibilities.

From a letter by "The Black Boy Beautiful" in Tohi Tala Niue: I ask for you. Why you treat Niue labour different from’ the people in the office of govt. Why Boss you give increase to April 1973 for them people and not for me and us together labour. This is the too much the very big wrong Boss. Us labour buy things from store just like the hei pene people in office of govt. ...

I promise to you all Boss you give me the April 1973 pay and I give all to wife and kids and put in the bank and no Steineka. I drink bottle. No bottle no drink. I write again about bottle in next time. But I wait first for me to get bit angry about no bottle Steineka.

From a letter by Kane, Honiara, in the BSI News Letter: How about all the talks that centred around mini skirts; what is the result. NOTHING. Some countries made laws against mini skirts, but you will say this is too harsh or Communistic. I wonder could it not be that they are forced to make laws as they are all out to preserve what is dear to them, their Custom, indeed their Culture and perhaps fought evil if not directly then indirectly. Perhaps I am not right to say we achieved nothing re skirts we achieved the freedom of seeing women s asses a practice very much against Solomon Islands Custom once calico was introduced if you like.

A practice which is now accepted and the Custom has gone down the drain. . . .

From the GEICs Atoll Pioneer: Two war helmets and skeleton bones were uncovered yesterday by workers digging trenches for water pipe lines at Betio. They are believed to be remnants of Allied Forces during the assault on Betio in the Second World War.

From an editorial in the Tonga Chronicle on

negligent driving:

One overseas visitor came in the other day, still shaking from a near miss, said a police vehicle with a blue flashing light drove straight at him.

Being a newcomer, he did not know what he d done wrong, but had enough sense and presence of mind to swerve to the side and avoid a collision. He learned later that the police vehicle was escorting the Prince Regent but instead of waving down the ignorant visitor the police just drove straight at him. He got the message all right but with two young passengers with him, he shuddered to think of the consequences . . .

From a report in The Fiji Times: The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Siddiq Koya, brandished two nooses, specially made from new rope, in the House of Representatives yesterday with a request that iwo Government members hang themselves. He told the Deputy Speaker, Mr Vijay Singh, and the national member for the South-Eastern seat, Mr Krishna Reddy: "In the name of the Indian community 1 say hang yourselves".