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STONES ROT BUT WORDS LAST FOREVER:
THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE ON THE COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION ON THE PACIFIC ISLAND
Pamela Thomas
E pala ma 'a, 'ae 'uppu (stones rot but words last forever). This old Samoan proverb points to the cultural significance of the spoken word in Samoan society. It alludes not only to the
enduring nature of myths and legends and the importance of orally transmitted geneologies and history, but to the richness and pleasure of good discussion, pride in the ability to talk well and the Samoans' skill in
oratory. Samoa has a talking culture, and oratory is regarded as an art form. The importance of the spoken word is clearly shown in a special category of chief - the 'tulafale' or talking chief. As in many Pacific
societies based on an oral culture, the spoken word is more than just a means of communication, it is central to the way of life.
THE STATE AS ENTRPRENEUR :
A CASE STUDY OF THE GOVERNMENT SHAREHOLDING AGENCY IN SOLOMON ISLANDS, ITS ORIGIN AND DEVELPOMENT
Peter Carroll
The majority of the countries of the South and West Pacific have achieved independence in the past two decades. Most of these very small countries have
become accustomed to using publlic enterprise to promote economic growth more rapid than that which obtained under earlier colonial regimes. Before independence,
publlic enterprise was not uncommon, particularly in the field of public utilities, and, to a lesser extent, in the financial sectors - as the several Agricultural and Industrial
Loans Boards of the region indicate - but it was nowhere extensive. The loosening of colonial ties at the time of independence, however, sparked off a veritable explosion
in its use. Governments, eager to speed up socio-economic growth but faced with relatively undeveloped private sectors, established public enterprises throughout their
economies. As a result, one problem has been that of effective coordination and control. Most governments have chosen to place their various public enterprises
under a relevant department, ultimately responsible, through ministers, to cabinet and parliament. The Fiji Sugar Corporation, Western Samoa Trust Estates Corporation,
Tonga Commodities Board, and many others vital to the well-being of their respective national economies, are dealt in with in this fashion.
ON WELFARE LOSSES WHEN BOTH QUOTAS AND TARIFFS ARE USED TO RESTRICT IMPORTS
Bharat R. Hazari
The object of this not note is to analyse welfare losses when imports are restricted by
the simultaneous use of both qoutas and tariffs. There exists at least two real life of where both types of restrictions are being applied to curtail the imports of foreign cars
into the local market. In spite of the absencce of a local car producer the Fijian Government uses both a quotas and a tariff on imported cars. The Australian
Government also uses both methods of protection - the foreign car makers are allowed to take up only 20% of the market and an import duty of 57% is also
imposed. Unlike Fiji, the quotas are actioned in Australia and several models of cars are locally produced. This note analyses the welfare consequences of the above
restrictions in a partial equilibrium framework. The analysis is carried out in diagrammatic terms.
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