In This Issue

WHAT IF THERE WAS WAR PlM’s staff writers discuss the i-j Pacific islands’ strategic importance to US defence planners and overview the current state of US-Pacific relations.

CORRUPTION PNG prime minister Paias Wingti has vowed -I Q to stamp out graft at all levels of government. Our Port Moresby 157 aorrespondent has a full account of what Mr Wingti is up against and what has been exposed so far.

FHE TROUBLE WITH GIRLS Male violence, often caused 22 ay alcohol, unemployment and social pressures, is a constant leadline grabber. But girls have problems of their own and they ire no less serious. One group is showing some success in ackling the issue.

FHE STORY BEHIND THE POLL While Mr Gaston Flosse 25 icored an overwhelming victory in the French Polynesia ° erritorial elections, the voting pattern tells an unusual story Yhich may bring the warring opposition factions together.

BANKRUPT OF IDEAS Fiji’s banking system takes a caning 07 in a report by an Australian academic who sees government control of the lending agencies as a brake on business development.

COMMERCIAL BREAK Can the region’s advertising 33 markets support commercial television? The ad agencies think so, though some media people are less sure. One man who is obviously positive is Mr Kerry Packer, the media baron, who has been awarded a licence to operate a commercial TV station in Fiji.

PROBLEMS OF SCALE Kiribati is often seen as one of the qq region’s poorest nations. But it does have a few positive things going for it, though population growth and finance are still major constraints.

KANAKS TAKE STOCK Both sides have claimed electoral 21 victory in New Caledonia, even though the FLNKS did not field a candidate. But the decision to expel the Tripoli conference delegates could mean that the Kanak moderates are still very much in control of the front.