Island Press

Reports from the island papers. Compiled by John Carter

MEMBERS of Parliament are currently chewing over an offer to join a “Par liamentary Betelnut Club”.

The idea was put forward by the De puty Prime Minister, Akoka Doi.

He told Parliament during Grievance Debate that such a club would sponsor a campaign to educate people on how to chew betelnut, and to conduct research into the possibility of establishing a permanent betelnut industry.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby A YOUNG man and three 16-year-old boys appeared in Boroko District Court on charges of possessing cannabis.

Mea Mexy Hahari, 23, of lokea in Gulf Province, Pius Manu, of Kubunga village in Central Province, James Mohi, of Orokolo in Gulf Province, and Moses were arrested by members of the drug squad at Taraka. Police allege that they

were smoking and peddling marijuana,

and that a large quantity of the drug was found in their possession.

The three boys are believed to have just completed their Grade 10 at Gerehu High School.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby

THE Air Pacific Employees Association has called on the airline to immediately re-instate flight attendants who have been grounded because of appearance

or weight.

Air Pacific grounded an air hostess from flying duties because she had a “loose stomach” after pregnancy.

APEA secretary, Mr Attar Singh, said two other flight attendants, a man and a woman, had also been relieved of flying duties this time for being overweight.

From The Fiji Times, Suva RARE birds of the Kingdom will soon be on exhibit at an aviary near Veitongo.

Dr Dieter Rinke, of West Germany, is leading the Wildlife Research Centre at

Veitongo in collecting rare species from

around the Kingdom.

Dr Rinke sees the aviary as an advan tage for biology students and an attrac tion for locals and tourists, but solely for study and display. Under no circumst ances would the birds be sold, he stressed.

“Tonga has more rare species of birds than any other country,” said Dr Rinke noting especially the malau, found only

on Niuafo’ou. But the best places to catch most rare species are on uninha bited islands such as Ata, Hunga Tonga, and Hunga Ha’apai or in the ’Eua rain forest.

From the Tonga Chronicle, Nukualofa OVER the last few weeks there have been a large number of disturbances in

the vicinity of licensed premises resulting

in people being barred from those pre mises for periods of between 1 month up to 5 years.

Unsatisfactory behaviour to threaten ing, abusing and destructive conduct make it appropriate to point out to those who feel they must engage in this form of conduct, the provisions of Section 25 of the Police Offences Ordinance, which state that: “Any person who is guilty of any riotous or indecent behaviour or of fighting in or near any public place, or of disturbing the public place, shall be guilty of an offence. Penalty $lOO or 2 month’s imprisonment”.

From The Norfolk Islander, Norfolk Island

From the Papua New Guinea Post Courier, Port Moresby