Islands
p. 76 · Read in the full issue
From the
Press
PNG Post-Courier It’s comforting to know that we live in a country where violent crime is practically unknown. That is, of course, unknown to the police so they say but not the chap next door.
Fiji Times, Suva A prisoner told Suva Court yesterday he escaped from the Naboro Prison Minimum Security Prison . .. after he ‘wandered to eat bananas’.
Hailans Nius, PNG The Western Highlands Interim Premier Mr Nambuga Mara warned members of the Mt Hagen Local Government Council not to come to meetings drunk.
Savali, Western Samoa Hearty congratulations to the Post Office for producing a local aerogramme. Now they might like to put some gum on the tabs so that people can stick them closed without having to buy additional glue or tape. And another problem; how many years back was the town clock blue? These days it’s a fairly uniform white.
Cook Islands News “Expatriate”, the current ‘in-jargon’ used to describe the non-Maori is, I suppose, preferable to the ‘Poms’, ‘Pakkies’, ‘Wogs’, ‘Wops’ and ‘Honkies’ used elsewhere to describe residents with an alternative skin-colour.
PNG Post-Courier When two of the nation’s leaders, the Commanderof the PNG Defence, Brigadier-General Ted Diro, and the former Police Commissioner Mr Pious Kerepia, say that there is a general lack of discipline in society today, we should all sit up and take notice.
Tohi Tala Niue A Household Survey (Mini Census 1979) carried out earlier this month confirmed the island “lowest ever level” recorded in any census on Niue from a report issued by the Census Office this week. The total population of 3578 is not healthy.
The Samoa Times, Western Samoa The recent outbreaks of violence involving young people is no laughing matter. Assault with intent to rob is on the rise whether we like it or not as witness the recent wave of assaults against innocent people. It appears that the assaults are mostly restricted to the urban area of Apia and occurs in isolated streets late at night. It further appears that these assaults are pre-planned by hooligans who do not care whether they cause irreparable injury or not, not to mention the psychological harm they do to victims.
Lae Nius, PNG People in the Tigili area in the Baiyer River area of the Western Highlands are saying that a python (snake) wants to marry a young woman from that area . . . Village elders and her husband are planning to kill a pig and conduct a ‘pretend’ marriage. They say the woman will be the snake’s wife when she dies but during her life on earth she will be the wife of her present husband.
The Coconut Telegraph, Savusavu, Fiji
Once again a national disaster has highlighted the need for some very urgent priorities in Fiji. We need a permanent National
Disaster Fund, financed by every man, woman and child. An insignificant tax of only 50 cents per person per year would bring in at least $3OO 000 annually. Properly administered by a board of competent people, representing all divisions, and regardless of political affiliations, a sound National Disaster Fund would go a long way towards meeting our needs in times of emergency.
PNG Post-Courier The idea that the National Tourism Plan is really the National Tourism Plan is gaining force. The Minister’s office appears to be laboring under the impression that the 10-volumes of detailed plan don’t exist. Which is surprising considering the Minister wrote a full page foreword to the summary of the plan. Even allowing for the ability of politicians to say a lot about nothing, it is nothing short of miraculous that a 47-page document can summarise a plan that isn’t there. More tomorrow.
The Observer, Western Samoa It is interesting to see that in the middle of the heightening political unrest in the New Hebrides, a Pacific country dying to come out from under the stern colonial rule of France, France having arrogantly tightened all the knots is proposing sending an “aid mission’’ to Western Samoa ... It should be made quite clear in the discussions that the proposed aid mission be called off. The French Ambassador must be politely informed; “Non Merci Monsieur Gueery.”
New Nation, PNG Donovanosis is a venereal disease which causes ulcers to appear on the outside of the sexual organs. They will not heal by themselves, and pencillin will not cure them. It is found more commonly in men and women, and it is believed that poor hygiene is often the cause of the spread of the disease.
Letter to Fiji Times Last Friday, May 5, around about midday, I was passing through the outskirts of Nausori Town when I came across a most odd situation. Parked outside the Visama Feed Mills was a Police Highway Parol car in its bright colours ... This patrol car seemed to be loading a bag of chicken feed. I wonder why the Police need a bag of chicken food?
Advert in The Reporter, PNG Lost: Appetite for avocados due to excess consumption thereof.
Tree still producing abundantly, but most fruits going rotten.
Amateurs welcome to help themselves.
Tohi Tala Niue Niue Island United Enterprises, Niue’s only service station stopped retailing petrol this week in protest against the Niue Government’s inconsequent maintenance of Shell’s petrol bowser down Tagavaka. Niue Manager, Mr Brian Nichols said . . . making a profit had been losing battle. Through level tests carried out last year, it had been noticed that the station had been losing a pint to every gallon.
Letter to The Norfolk Islander As a regular visitor to this island I deplore the lack of courage shown in the weather “forecasts’’ emanating from the local meteorological station ... I do not need to be told that yesterday we had 4'/2-hours of sunshine and that the maximum temperature was 22°C. Nor do I need to be told that the temperature at the moment is 20°C and light showers are expected this morning.
What I would like to be told is should I plan to go fishing on Thursday and am I likely to get soaked to the skin on the golf course on Sunday? Come on boys give it a go!
Letter to Lae Nius, PNG My concern is that a few years ago, from 1972 to 1976, the city of Lae was very clean and tidy. I have seen that during the period of 3 years 1977 to 1979 the whole town area is full of rubbish.
I say that the city council is not doing its job. If you want to keep our city clean you can learn from Goroka town council or Port Moresby City Council. You are just getting the government money without doing the work.