The Island Press

Reports from the papers, compiled by John Carter

IN HIS ruling on a dispute between the Fiji Public Service Association and the Suva Board of Fire Commissioners on the dismissal of a fire officer for alleged sexual misconduct, the Permanent Arbitrator, Mr Joseph Khanailal Maharaj said he was satisfied there was a romantic link.

“After all, the fact that he was found in Mrs A’s bed sleeping side-byside surely does not mean he was there for the purpose of telling her a story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” he said.

From Flotsam and Jetsam in The Fiji Times, Suva SIGATOKA Hospital is to have a new outpmients a nd ante-natal clinic. The dime will help ease congestion now faced by pregnant women and outpatients ‘ From The Fiji Times, Suva MEMBERS of the Association of Samoan Teachers (Socaiete a Faiaoga Samoan SFS) will boycott this month’s national examinations for students in Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10.

According to the decision announced yesterday this is because the teachers have no faith in the gov ernment’s examinations.

From the Samoa Times, Apia THE NATIONAL Restaurant Asso ciation is dissatisfied with operations and service from the government

owned liquor store (bond).

A report from a Monday afternoon meeting attended by 14 of the 21 res taurants on Rarotonga said that there was “unanimous” dissatisfaction ex pressed because of the limited range m stock.

Apart from the limited choice for sale, the meeting found that stock on the shelves was too old.

From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga EAST New Britain leaders are not happy with the type of education their young people are receiving. Premier Sir Ronald To Vue thinks too much emphasis is being given to “core sub jects” such as English and mathematics and not enough to practical skills and

agriculture something which will

equip the young people to return to

the community.

Sir Ronald said “too much” time was given to learning of the English lan guage and he wants that cut.

Community school children have six hours on English followed by four on mathematics while science and social science get one to three hours a week.

The non-core subjects get less time.

Sir Ronald said English class hours should be cut in favour of practical lessons. “You don’t need to know En glish in order to beat a piece of metal

into a beautifully shaped object.”

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby THE INFLUX of Space Invaders machines is proving to be a major con cern, says the Probation and Juvenile Welfare Office.

Chief Probation and Welfare Offic er Ben Nicholls says children spend so much time on Space Invaders, “quite often they are not turning up to school”.

From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga

Appointed: Mr Terry Williams, as manager of the Victoria Parade, Suva, branch of the ANZ Bank. Some of Mr William’s 28 years with the bank were

spent in appointments in Fiji and

Honiara. Also appointed is Mr Indar Pal Singh, as manager of the ANZ Bank’s Branch at Labasa, Fiji. Pre viously accountant at the Naviti Street, Lautoka branch of the bank, Mr Singh has been with the ANZ for 14 years.

Died: Sister Mary Crescentia, aged 97 74 years after her arrival in PNG from her home in Germany in 1914 at the Tubiana Marist Sisters’ con vent in Bougainville on October 26.

Sister Crescentia taught for many years in various Catholic schools, was interned from 1942 to 1945 in East New Britain, and spent two years after World War II being restored to health

in Sydney.

A nun from Tubiana said: “Though she has never returned to Germany since her arrival on Bougainville, her family has always kept in touch with her.” Sister Crescentia suffered a dis located hip in 1979, but was able to

move about with the aid of a stick or the shoulder of a companion.

Died: Miss Lillian Charlton, education al pioneer and former principal of Adi Cakobau School, aged 81, at her home in South Africa, on October 10.

Miss Charlton took over the newly built school in 1948 and directed it until she went to teach in Tarawa in

1966. Many prominent Fijian women

have been the products of her far

sighted guidance.

Miss Charlton was awarded an MBE in 1966, and went to live with her sister in South Africa in 1984.

Appointed: Mr R Howard Stephenson, as chairman and chief executive of Bancorp Hawaii and its principal sub sidiary, Bank of Hawaii, from March 1 1989. He succeeds retiring chairman Frank J Manaut, who has held that position since 1980.

Laurence M Johnson becomes presi dent of both organisations in succes sion to Mr Stephenson.

Died: Mr Nemia Drauna, deputy

general manager and chief estate officer of the Native Land Trust Board, in Suva on November 16. Mr Drauna, aged 48, had been with the Native Land Trust Board since 1964.

He was educated at the Provincial School Northern in Bucalevu, the Queen Victoria School, Suva Gram mar School and the Royal Agricultural

College at Cirencester, England.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

Died: Mr Pius Malip, 28, Member of Parliament for Amounti/Drekikir in the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly, as the result of a motor vehicle accident in Port Moresby on November 21. Mr Malip was driving home from a parliamentary function about 11pm when his struck rocks by the road and the vehicle plunged into the sea.

He is survived by his wife. Parlia ment was adjourned for three days as a mark of respect, and Prime Minister Mr Rabbie Namaliu paid tribute to Mr Malip as “a young and capable leader the national can ill afford to lose”. □