St. Helena

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 7

St. Helena

Sir,—ln the uncritical review in Saturday’s paper of “Islands Time Forgot," occurs this visionary description of St. Helena: “The island now holds a flourishing colony of settlers, and its principal hotel has a notable cuisine" Facts, however, give a grimmer picture. St Helena’s . income depends largely upon agriculture, but two-thirds of the island is barren, and droughts, soil exhaustion and pest damage diminish the yield from the rest A quarter of the men are on Government “relief' work, earning no more than 30s weekly. Meat consumption averages 131 b a head a year; recently the ration was IJoz a week. The World Health Organisation reported the children 2}in shorter than English children, and 201 b lighter at 13} years. The “principal” hotel seldom houses six guests together; we found the fare enjoyable but unpretentious. Without

Commonwealth assistance, the outlook for loyal St Helena is as depressing as her recent history.—Yours, etc, SALLY STONEHOUSE. January 28, 1963.

Viscount Samuel Ill.—The condition of Viscount Samuel. 92-year-old former leader of the British Liberal Party, was “causing great anxiety.” a member of his household said. He has been ill at his home for several days —London, January 26.