The Island Press

Reports from the papers, compiled by John Carter

RADIO loses one-third of its potential adult audience on Rarotonga every time a parliament session is broadcast, accord ing to a survey conducted this weekend.

A CIBNC poll of listener response to ward parliamentary broadcasts elicited a variety of responses ranging from “very interested” to “utter rubbish”.

The poll indicated that 27 per cent of adult Rarotonga residents are interested in listening to parliamentary debates, 36 per cent are generally lukewarm to Parlia ment but will listen if they have nothing else to do, and 36 per cent switch off their radios as soon as Parliament is on.

From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga I AM a women living alone, providing as much security for myself as I can afford.

I am incredulous after reading two re ports: “Security boom reflects Moresby rape increase” and “PNG has 200 police on Vanuatu alert”. How can the Govern ment even consider sending 200 police men to Vanuatu when at least six women have been pack-raped in Moresby alone in the past 10 days?

Doesn’t that constitute an emergency Don’t the women of this country come before the citizens of Vanuatu?

From a letter signed “Potential Victim, Boroka” in the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier , Port Moresby A PORT Moresby barber has called on the national Government to stop what he calls an “invasion of foreigners” into the hair dressing business.

Mr Solomon Rupu, part-owner of Sammies Barbershop at Tabari Place, Bo roko, said yesterday that nationals were being forced out of the barber trade by

competition from expatriates who were starting up little shops catering for both men and women.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier , Port Moresby BEING back in Tonga off and on since 1983 I have found driving here these days much more hectic than on the freeways overseas.

One may ask with more vehicles on the road have our road works matched this “development”?

More concerning, however, is the obst able course we have to contend with, like avoiding animals and drunken drivers.

Anyhow what is the Tongan road code?

I am a Tongan, born overseas, and I find using taxis far safer (well it was) and economical.

I hope my criticism is to assist our de velopment to become truly one of the Friendly Islands.

A letter by “A concerned • Tongan driver” in Matangi Tonga , Nukualofa “A ‘DEAD’ museum attracts only the dead” says Cook Islands Museum Cura tor, Makiuti Tongia, explaining the rea soning behind upgrading displays there.

Mr Tongia says a principal aim for the year is to upgrade the standard of display cases, artifacts and labels: the aim is to convert the museum into a living one.

From the Cook Islands News , Rarotonga THE Western Samoan Government is ap parently having second thoughts about its ban on alcohol at all government func tions following the dismal turn-up at func

tions since then.

The Samoa Times reports that at the first functions since the ban, barely 20 people turned up and those who did soon disappeared.

From the Cook Islands News , Raratonga ANGLICAN bishops in Papua New Guinea are against the ordination of women.

The bishops made their stand clear at a recent meeting in Arawa, in North Sol omons Province.

They signed the Declaration of Unity, Witness and Mission already sup ported by more than 50 bishops in the An glican communion which affirms that the ordination of women to the priesthood is inconsistent with the tradition of the Church.

It warns that ordination of women would gravely endanger the unity of the church.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier , Port Moresby HAVING RECEIVED a request from the Consul-General of Chile and the CSIRO in Australia, Norfolk Island was asked to supply 2000 dung beetles of a species that has now become rare in Australia.

The purpose of the dispatch of these dung beetles was for forwarding from Chile to Easter Island, which has a soil structure and climate very similar to Norfolk Island.

Dung beetles play a very important part in the environmental structure of areas that did not previously have large dung producing animals.

From the Norfolk Islander , Norfolk Island.

Below: Grass Roots’ comment on the spate of “engagements” that gripped Papua New Guinea during the last weeks of the Wingti Government.