from the islands press

From a letter by C. Kline in the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga . . . I sat in a local church there and listened as the pastor encouraged the congregation that God will bless your nation because the Lord is your God. I would like to advise you that history proves every nation that has insisted on the use of idols for any reason has been wiped out (destroyed) in one way or another. Your tangaroa not only is pornographic but actually carries with it a demonic stronghold on your nation in the area of lust. The result is teenage pregnancies, rape, incest and emotional hangups.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby New Ireland MP Noel Levi suggested in Parliament yesterday that only people who earned more than KlO,OOO a year should be allowed to stand for elections. This was because those who earned less could easily be corrupted by businessmen if they won a seat. “Otherwise, raise the wages of members so that they will not be easily influenced by businessmen. ”

A letter by R. Wilkinson of Boroko in the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby One can only hope the Government will reconsider the values that allow a reduction of duty on beer, while the duty on milk is raised.

From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga The Immigration Office has received complaints from concerned locals about tourists camping on beaches around Rarotonga.

The complainants claim that the campers pitch tents at night and like phantoms move out before daybreak. The Chief Immigration Officer Tutai Tom said . . . The Cook Islands accepts tourists if they stay in licensed accommodation, but if visitors cannot afford to meet their lodging costs they could be asked to leave the country.

From The Pitcairn Miscellany, Pitcairn Island The installation of the Radio-Telephone equipment last year has been of tremendous benefit to the Island. Voice contact has meant that matters can be handled with greater speed and efficiency than was previously possible with the old system.

The old system relied solely upon morse code, which restricted communication to the sending and receiving of cables. The charges for making overseas calls are also quite reasonable.

Since its installation, the system has been well used by almost everyone.

From a report in the Cook Islands News of a debate in the Cook Islands Parliament While the Prime Minister was getting the verbal abuse from the other side, Minister of Immigration Norman George was getting the pat on the back from the opposition. Earlier, Mr George had threatened to “thump” his arch rival Vincent Ingram “if no-one shut him up”. Later in the day George and Ingram were on good terms again, a fact he publicly announced to the House.

From The Coconut Telegraph, Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji Public flogging has been brought back to Tamavua Village, near Suva, for those found guilty of disturbing the peace, or causing problems, drunkenness or bad language. It is said that things are much quieter now in the village.

From The Fiji Times, Suva Labasa police are investigating a cowboy-type raid in Daku where 140 empty railway trucks were hijacked on Monday afternoon. The trucks, which were bound for Lagalaga, about 35 km from Labasa Town in the Wainikoro Sector, disappeared near Daku. Cane harvesting gangs wanting to jump the queue are suspected to be behind the hijacking.

From a High Court report in the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga A young boy of Avatiu was said by Judge Dillon in court to be drinking far too much liquor even though he was only sixteen. Ngatokorua Tere Teipo, originally of Atiu, was charged with breaking and entering a dwelling in Avatiu.

From a report in Vanuatu Weekly, Port-Vlla, on parliamentary proceedings The bill for the Penal Code (Amendment) Act which repeals the offence of adultery, but makes it grounds for divorce and enables the wronged wife or husband to claim compensation from the correspondent, was passed. The offence of adultery will no longer be a criminal matter, but a civil one.

From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga A whole year of preparation and planning paid off for Mr and Mrs Rei Jack of Avatiu when on Saturday over a thousand people turned up at the Tupapa Maraereng centre for the haircutting ceremony of their youngest son Lefou . . . The grand affair now becoming quite common in the Cook Islands cost over three thousand dollars alone in materials for decorating the dais.

A public notice in the PNG Post-Courier