Piyb: An
p. 61 · Read in the full issue
Ocean Of
Knowledge
True to its promise last year to make a ‘year book' a ‘hardy annual’. Pacific Publications has now brought out the thir teenth edition of the Pacific Islands Year Book (PIYB) de scribed by many, and not in any irreligious sense, as the ‘Bible of the Pacific’. And, like the Bible which contains every thing a Christian needs for sal vation, the Pacific Islands Year Book has everything anyone needs to know about the Island countries of the Pacific and a bit about the ocean as well.
There were 432 pages in the twelfth edition. There are 512 pages in this one with a pocket on the inside back cover con taining a new four-colour map
of the Pacific, 85cm x 54cm. A
political map, showing who
owns or rules what, is on the inside front cover, and, for good measure, the book has a strong, welded plastic dust cover.
Events have moved very rap idly in the Pacific. Island mar kets are expanding fast,
political pressures are growing
in a world which is shrinking rapidly, and a thorough knowl edge of the Pacific Islands is becoming a ‘must’ in every sphere, particularly in those of business and politics, not for getting the tourist industry.
The new year book, revised,
improved, updated, with sev
eral additions, with more maps, with the latest information gathered on the spot, supplies the knowledge. The history of the Pacific War is repeated and there is an in-depth article on South Pacific Defence and re gional security in the South Pa cific by Dr Richard Herr, political scientist at the Univer sity of Tasmania.
The PI) B gives you the his tory, the people (census, mi
gration. religion, etc.), the
government (electoral system,
public service, justice, defence,
education), labour, health, the
land, primary production,
mining, local commerce, tour ism, overseas trade, finance, transport, vehicles, shipping services, water and electricity,
major personalities and organ
isations, tourist accommo dation, etc., all with the requisite maps. It even de scribes the customs and the pastimes of the people and, in case there isn’t lime on an occasion when some infor mation is needed in seconds, there is a front-of-the-book summary of islands which gives the name, status, capital, land area, population, local time and currency.
One improvement in the cur rent issue is the addition of run ning page heads for easy access to information. The index has been widened in scope and the invaluable list of current and obsolete or alternative names for islands has been retained.
The Pacific Islands Year Book sells tor 5A22.50 or SUS 27 including surface post age and handling charges; from Pacific Publications (Aust) Pty Ltd, Box 3408, G.P.0., Sydney 2001. Recommended retail price in Australia is $19.50.