in mind

All about the Islands-with aid

The outside world is much more aware of the Pacific Islands than it was, even 10 /ears ago, a fact brought about by the extensive use of modem means of communication and

a proliferation of publications.

As the Island groups have be

come independent or self

governing there is a growing Dutside awareness that politics are very real in the world of waving palms, reef-enclosed lagoons and white beaches.

One of the latest publi :ations. South Pacific Dossier, s a useful dual guide to the area. Published by the Aus ;ralian Council for Overseas Aid, the co-ordinating body for 15 Australian non-government

organisations working in the

ield of overseas aid and development, it gives an insight nto 17 Pacific groups.

A potted guide to what makes each group tick is fol owed by fairly topical articles, ill by people well-versed in Pa cific affairs. The guide gives oare essential details about the various areas such as an

estimate of the population, the name of the capital or adminis trative centre, a brief history, the form of government, the economy, communications and trade with Australia.

As it is an Australian publi cation there is an understand able emphasis on Australian aid in the guide. There is a mention of some other major suppliers, such as Japan, the US, France, the UK and New Zealand, which shows that Australia does not now enjoy the once pre-eminent position it had in Pacific trading.

For many years the Pacific Islander was content to

languish under the patronising

umbrella of the colonial powers. But with a political awakening after World War 11, as many authors in South Pa cific Dossier point out, they are learning to cope with the 20th century, while still retaining as much as possible of their own customs and cultures.

Perhaps the best version of what the Pacific needs, is set

out by Tongan Sione

Tupouniua, graduate of Har

vard, who did post-graduate studies at Oxford. He tries to

show how political indepen

dence gives an opportunity to create. Apart from this article which does not set out to give the answer to the problems of the Pacific, most authors chron icle what has happened or what is happening, possibly in the hope that Australia, and other metropolitan powers, may interpret this as appeals for as sistance in development.

Such appeals to Australia should not fall on deaf ears for Australia has done pretty well commercially out of the South Pacific; perhaps now is the time to step up putting a lot more back than she is at pre sent, notwithstanding the handsome annual grants to

Papua New Guinea.

(SOUTH PACIFIC DOSSIER, edited by Gay Woods.

Published by Australian Council for Overseas Aid.

P 0 Box 1562. Canberra. ACT. Australia. 2601. $4,001