Islands

From the

Press

From an article signed ‘Manggi Niu Hebridis’ In Nasiko, Port-Vila, New Hebrides Many people who support the view of forming a Confederation don’t really know what it means. It means splitting up the country and there will never be National Unity. All the hard work put into unifying the country would be wasted. This is true because a confederation is an association of several states which unite for the purpose of mutual co-operation and defence but which does not have direct power over citizens of each individual state and is not entrusted with the conduct of their foreign affairs. This is worse than returning to cannibalism and Village and Island

Rivalry of ancient times.. .

From a correspondent’s comments in the Nauru Post,

following a council by-election

After all the counting was done it was found that Bop had 107 votes and Eoe had 107. It was a tie. The returning officer tried every move that was reasonable and decided to flip a coin, but alas decided at the last minute that legal advice should be sought. (J. A. Bop was later declared elected following a reassessment of the validity of several ballot papers.) From a tribute in the Fiji Times, Suva, to a departing sugar industry official George Moody-Stuart was one of those expatriates on a fat salary and hefty perks who was probably actually worth it... His blue suede boots will be hard to fill.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port

Moresby

A Central Province rainmaker wants his KBO fee before he will bring rain to drought-stricken Port Moresby. He is Jack Manaaiva, of Aipiana village, near Bereina in Central Province.

Told of the seriousness of power cuts expected next week, Mr Manaaiva said if he was paid the KBO he could bring rain to fill the Sirinumu Dam. He said yesterday he would be going home today to prepare his magic gear in case he was paid to bring rain.

Mr Manaaiva said he had the skill to not only bring rain but also to stop it. During Independence celebrations in Port Moresby he also brought a light shower to cool celebrants. A nephew of Mr Manaaiva testified to his uncle’s powers, saying whenever his Hohola garden was dry he would ask him to bring rain ‘for our area alone’. His uncle would always oblige.

From an editorial in the Fiji Times, Suva Population control, or as it is termed somewhat euphemistically in Fiji, family planning, is an important issue which is becoming urgent. Yet in this past week we have heard it being treated frivolously in Parliament. At least we presume it was a frivolous suggestion that ‘shrinking mataqalis should get more wives’.

More distressingly, the matter of population control was given racist overtones by the comment that Ba was suffering overpopulation with Indians who should be ‘preached’ family

planning.

From a letter in the Fiji Times, Suva I feel that the government’s desire to weaken the alcoholic content of Fiji beer would not decrease violent crimes and would not alleviate the many social problems which result from excessive consumption of beer. Weakening Fiji beer would just mean that beer drinkers would have to buy more beer to get drunk.

From a letter to Voice of the New Hebrides For some time now I have been aware of a certain trend emerging among some of the female telephone operators in Port Vila’s Post Office. Their former director once spoke of his determination to provide an efficient service for the population throughout the islands and beyond. Well, what are the current supervisors doing?

The clarity of our conversations on the air is good but some of your operators are turning the channels into ‘hot lines’ with ‘sweet love words’ to and from their overseas counterparts during official hours, thus closing the channels from efficient service. I am writing from experience because once I rang to make a call and I had to wait because the operator was said to be busy. Somehow I got connected to her while she was talking. I could not believe my ears on hearing what she was saying. Yes she was busy but busy whispering sweet words into the dizzy brain of a male operator in Honiara!

From The Fiji Times, Suva MrTakehiko Kato, head of the airline’s publicity department, said charter flights run by JAL to Fiji over the past three years were ‘not a great financial success, but they did help in introducing Fiji to the Tokyo travel trade. But, compared to Tahiti, often a setting for Japanese novels and having a powerful romantic draw, you are virtually unknown’, he said.

From a letter in the Solomon Islands News Drum, Honiara I see that the Honiara Club buildings and land are under new ownership. Many of us old members of the Honiara Club would like to know how this was done, and who has received the money from the sale. During the 1960 s and 19705, we worked hard to build up the club and we succeeded. The present clubhouse was the result of a lot of serious drinking, and a lot of voluntary work.

From a letter in the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier,

Port Moresby

Could all you expatriate women bear in mind that Ela Beach is neither your private swimming pool nor your residential area, nor is it a beach in your own country. Try to cover yourselves when people are watching. You look almost naked to the nationals when you move about with your bikini on. Try to cover up with a towel or a laplap. When you walk about with bikinis on, the national women around are very embarrassed.

From an advertisement in the Marianas Variety, Saipan One & One Fashion Newly Opened! Ladies Blouses, Dress & Slacks.

From The Fiji Times, Suva All alcohol should be banned from Fiji, the House of

Representatives heard yesterday. Opposition Member Mr

Krishna Rao (Indian Communal) told the House that this was the only way to combat crime in Fiji. And he wagered $ 10 000 that if alcohol was banned from the country, the crime rate would drop in the next six months ... . Yaqona drinking should continue, he said, as he knew that yaqona drinkers lived longer.

From the Solomon Islands News Drum, Honiara Mr Hueng, of the Pacific Fishing Company, which has a large cannery and fish freezing factory at the Fiji port of Levuka, said the Taiwanese seamen were ‘particularly badly off. They are paid about US$25O a month and worked 15 hours a day. Their only break is two weeks ashore in Fiji while their ships undergo maintenance and provisioning.