Islands

From the

Press

From the Cook Islands News, quoting Premier Sir Albert

Henry:

Yesterday morning, Tuesday, in the Assembly, the Premier made a statement, that as he said, “I want to record in this House as my statement as Head of this Government. I raise a strong objection as Head of this government, this country and of the Public Service of this country to a member of the New Zealand bar, a high-ranking lawyer of New Zealand, Mr Paul T emms, Queen’s Counsel, coming into the Cook Islands and entering government offices without the proper etiquette of requesting permission from the Head of this government, and because of his position as Queen’s Counsel, using that position to try and intimidate a Government official into making statements to him ... a Queen’s Counsel walking uninvited into the offices of a

Knight of the British Empire ...”

From Uni Tavur, the University of Papua New Guinea student newspaper: The health services at UPNG should help students to overcome their problems and miseries, the student counsellor, Mrs Parames said. She said, in institutions individuals are away from parental guidance and supervisions and they are now free to meet the opposite sex. We all know that students will be making love so why not prevent the miseries resulting from unplanned and sometimes unwanted pregnancies. She said also that it would be an act of responsibility for couples to approach the health clinics, family planning clinics or to the student counselling service for

contraceptive advice.

From a letter by Denise Lachance in the Tonga Chronicle

on problems experienced by visiting females:

... I can cite the experience of three acquaintances of mine from three different countries other than my own. On a recent boat trip to Ha’apai they were shamelessly harassed by young men attempting to crawl under their blankets with them, among other things. Perhaps the vigorous protests of the young women were interpreted as perfunctory coyness but they certainly were not...

From the American Samoa News Bulletin: If you sometimes feel that you are knee-deep in dogs, or you curse every morning when you discover that a dog pack has raided your garbage can, scattering debris in all directions, there’s something else to think about. Public Health Officer Nofo Siliga reports that 38 dog bite victims were treated by the Department of Health during the month of May and 146 have been treated in the first five months of 1978. In addition, there is no way of knowing how many dog bite victims did NOT report to Public Health nurses or dispensaries.

From the Lae Nius: The Morobe People’s Association (MODIPE) during its meeting last month unanimously agreed to express opposition to the proposed overseas trip of Lae City Councillors .. .If the councillors insist on undertaking the proposed trip, the Modipe Association demanded that the K2O 000 grant by the Provincial Government for drainage work in Lae city should be returned

to the Government for use on other projects in the province. “We believe that if Lae City Council can afford to go overseas, then they also can afford to finance drainage works in Lae,” a

spokesman said.

From the Tohi, Tala Niue: “Niueans are eating a lot of rubbish they eat apple, pears and vegetables both fresh and tinned from overseas”, said the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Young Vivian. “What’s wrong with our pawpaws and a lot of other fruit and vegetables grown locally,” he said.

From the Lae Nius reporting on a speech by PNG Minister for Health Wiwa Korowi at the 31st World Health Assembly at Geneva: .. .“Here, I must state that Papua New Guinea may differ from many recently independent states. We feel no shame in acknowledging our debt to our previous colonial administrator, Australia.”

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier reporting a speech by Sir Maori Kiki at a University of Papua New Guinea forum: ... Sir Maori said that by sacking the two employees of J. C.

Waller Pty Ltd, the employers had insulted the unions. The two employees did not steal but borrowed six cans of beer, he said.

An announcement from Salt Lake City (USA) and reported in the American Samoa News Bulletin: Mormon Church President Spencer Kimball announced today that black men will, for the first time, be admitted to the Mormon priesthood. The announcement ends a 148-year church policy of excluding blacks from the Mormon priesthood, which is open to all male church members in good standing over the age of 12.

From a letter on bride price by G. Walkersville in the Solomon Islands News Drum: . .. This custom no longer plays its main role, that of the sealing of the marriage. Rather it has become a commercial venture for the girl’s relatives. Thus, it is not uncommon these days to hear a girl’s relatives claiming that the amount paid is not enough.

How the hell do they measure the girl’s worth. Back home I have frequently asked the question “Why do men have to pay bride price?” And the most frequent answer I get is “to repay the parents for bringing the girl up”. What about the boy, was he not also brought up by his parents?

From Tohi Tala Niue on the travels of Niuean Toeono Tongatule, in Italy on a training course: ... Tonio seems to be settling in alright in Turin and is developing a taste for spaghetti and wine; perhaps when he returns he will start the first spaghetti plantation on our island.

From The Fiji Times, commenting on the current stagnant state of the tourist industry: To some extent we ourselves are to blame for the unhappy state of affairs. During the boom years, some of us were too busy making fortunes to worry about the poor tourist.

From an article in the Tonga Chronicle by Minister of Police ‘Akau’ola on passport offences: According to Australian Immigration records ... the MV Tauloto has now taken on the status of cruise ship. Some Tongans legally entering Australia with a passport and subsequently found overstaying, have resorted to hiding their passports, giving a false name and alleging to have arrived as stowaways on the MV Tauloto. When deported, they can easily apply for re-entry under their correct name with a valid passport. This cover story has been used so often that the MV Tauloto is theoretically alleged to carry at least 20 stowaways on each voyage!