from the islands press

Advice from Jean-Louis Vivaldi, former general manager of Hotel Sofitel Maeva Beach In Tahiti, to hotel waiters as reported in Tahiti Sun Press.

“A smile is worth much more than knowing whether to serve on the right and clear from the left.”

From the Marianas Variety News & Views, Saipan Bishop Tomas Camacho blamed Monday* the introduction of 24-hour television for the lack of communication within the family. During the weekly press conference hosted by the Northern Marianas Press Club, Camacho said divorces and other family problems could be traced to the breakdown of the traditional extended family system here. He said the breakdown was caused primarily by lack of communication between parents and children. Lack of communication, in turn, was mainly due to the introduction of 24-hour television, he said.

From Uni Tavur, the University of PNG students’ magazine Most students interviewed in a Uni Tavur survey do not like the food in the Mess. And most students who were here last year said that the food is getting worse. A total of 78 students were interviewed, of whom 24 were first years. They were first asked: “What do you think of the food in the Mess?” “The obvious thing is that the food is too greasy, the cooks use too much oil, and the greens are not well prepared as I’ve seen people finding insects and also green frogs,” said Mr Wilson Nelson, a final year Economics student from New Ireland.

From Uni Tavur, the UPNG students’ magazine More than ten per cent of the female students at UPNG are either expecting babies or have had them this year. Out of fewer than 200 female students, 20 of them are either

pregnant or have had babies. According to student counsellor Mrs Margaret Kewere, the number has increased from previous years, but she does not have exact figures.

From a court report in Tohi Tala Niue, Niue Island.

Lapoisi Ikihelc of Tamakautoga was ordered by the Court to clean his name off the walls of the caves at Avaiki and Talava.

From The FIJI Times, Suva.

Ba Town Council has asked for an investigation into how overseas collect calls worth $904.20 were charged to a public telephone at the Ba Market . . . Telephone bills for January and February gave $904.20 as charges for overseas reverse calls on telephone number 74273, which is located in the market and is a public telephone.

From The Times of Papua New Guinea, commenting on the forthcoming elections.

Due to previous experience more of the old people are expecting free gifts of money, food, beer, truck rides and other services.

A letter by “Unhappy Australian” in The Norfolk Islander I am not very happy at the moment, to be an Australian when I hear on Radio Australia that the unions (who form a very big part of the Australian community) are willing to see their fellow South Pacific neighbours, the Fijians, suffer food shortages.

This is a shameful situation, regardless of politics. It seems to be a cynical case of double standards in the meaning of democracy. It is wrong for the Fijian people to take the step to try and protect their future and yet at the same time, right for the union movement to bring the democratically elected government to its knees by strike action which leaves it and its people, hungry.

“The Post-Couriers’ Grass Roots takes a look at electioneering -PNG style.”