THE COOK ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 985, 28 November 1910, Page 4

THE COOK ISLANDS.

[ : CAPrAIN J. SMITHS ADMINIS. f.N :.-;■ • . TRATION. I: > .!-' ".; > -commissioner replies to [■;*;;;:;';-; : .'criticism.. .' I INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE; I;-;} In reply to Mr. Rupert V. Hosking's j-■■;■■ criticisms' of tho Cook Islands Admin- ! ■.;'; astration iindcr the regime of Captain k v,'J. Eman Smith, N.Z.M., published in ;;:7:7tHE Dominion of-October,-IS'last, the ;■; ;: : Resident. Commissioner, has -forwarded i .jl jo his Ministerial chief (tho Hon. Jaines f•. % Carroll) a lengthy memorandum, in. i - ;|i which Mr. Hosking's'. allegations arof':;i; dealt-with' seriatim. The Commissioner [V 7, has, also enclosed a memorandum from !:..;;Dr. Chesson, principal medical officor t-._, :i. under the Administration, in • reply to 7 : :-i Mr:. Hosking's .criticisms of'the medi- ;. ;,cal service at the Cook Islands. Tho r ■■;; correspondence was read in the House i. ■ ;!<" "-Kepresfintativcs between 1 end 2 ; ! ;8.m..0n Saturday last by the Native- !,,.■,;; Minister/ when replying 'u,---cii&{a. -. ■■-■.questions raised by Mr. R. A. Wrightf ria connection with the Cook 7 Islands' ;•. -Administration,, and, as a defence of--7 v 7 tfto Administration, the correspondence.' 7 7 Jnakes interesting reading. ■•■ '■<..>;■.■ :■-.;.;',.' J 1j COMMISSIONER'S REPLY; |: ;| .NO COMPLAINTS HldJI^HEi-j ; ' .- i! ~ !. -l- : V"*l » XiS. -'...-. '. i, ... .'.\ ;■• >i Commissioner Smith's memorandum, j 7 .reads as follows:— ' V: -7?,.~: 1 ; %"c"Ti haTe reacl in The DraiiNioN' ■~ i)f Saturday, October 15, the., state-", * ; ments made by Mr. Rupert V.' Hoskj. .. ■ ing, ..who has been practising as - a : : Jlentist. m. Rarotonga . for some few i loonths, criticising my. administration f. .:. l,.have personally, been on very friendly ;-,;. Hosking, and until I > read the-article had noreasoh tosup- ;;;,. pose that he /was not .favourably-dis- [ . . jipsed to me: With.regara'.to-his'cdm--[./.jpanson between my predecessor!' <r: ,-. piyself I have nothing toxay'r'- ■ - ■■'-.

7i An "Engineered" .Petition.': !:->-( ■;ii''Tho writer.of tho articlo fetates that in, his opinion I have failed to win 'theccniidence. of the natives': {.'The 'argu(i used is that. of my. dalliance' ;i witli of the sottle-m-Mlt Of.tho:flativo land titles. ■ I-haW ssythat-'I hire every reason to .;P l< ?w. I. havo successfully dealt with all the'land matters .brought, before we. ■ As all titles to ..Rarotonga ■Jand wore settled pnor to iny = atrivar f a?' o ; h ad;very.fpw cases irideea to'deal•wijh. fh.ere is no reason to ■do'ubtthat I jiossess the confidence of the'natives'" l foij.during my fourteen months , 'admin-.i :ist.ration, I have not '. deceived .'one ■ complaint from them 7- "dri;, ..my, few,. .Uand .decisions, or.': any'.other, potion of laipe. -I n leadii]g:l ■chMhs, representing a ot ,tho population, called-.tipoh','ino'with regard to tke ; article, and •■expressed cenfidenco itf mg/'fana'also 1 n desire to hayp tho names of all their : people-removed from tho petition,: en--gimiered.by.interested parties, requestinguthe: reinstatement of Dr.' Dawson and the removal of Dr. Chesson. They ' "jfsirod: to. be permitted to rl ply : to the /article in question, but I -discouraged'.this idea. : ■...-•■:.-

stato ofeperment; , '! if , "The second ■ to' a" dangermis:state.of ferment now iing.i Up to. tho present no ono has ; : Been. a sign : of this in any way, as the natives ?ro very contented and' lawabidHK indeed: When he states that .4 wiU take; very littlo more to precipitate a.disturbance which'mav havo serious .results;, i agr<c him,' if suchj irresponsible people, for political ul p "-j at, °, PFP° SCS ) are permitted, by 'the/aid.of. tlio, press in New Zealand, to publish, such articles as-hi s , w ( may . at .any- moment cause serious ■trouble among the natives. ..--"''« - I. inay poin-i out that one.of "the reasons of:this gentleman's hostility to .my.irfministration is that-1 donbFknsw -the language. This is quite'"true,Vbut : although' the late. :had :, a: •very-ano. knowledge of tho language.'-ho Dover used it in his courts;-' as he .found it more, advantageous forSjiim,: to^do^ ffi X T ° n !& -\ *y the Administration.' : r-.-J.- ; ,v • h », -

..THE DOCTORS OF RAROTONGA. ' IWERE r THE NATIVES' MINDS '■:'■'.-.. -.-.■ poisoned? ..:■■< "Thefourth 'paragraph refers'-tir the medical service, regarding which'■"you were • very: fully advised before any steps wero taken hy me," continues the Commissioner. "I was, personally, -.very sorry indeed to lose the"'services f. .On Dawson,. .who was peculiarly .ntted-by-his untiring energy for the position he resigned in consequence ; of questions of finance, for which' I alono am responsible. It was necessary 'to Bee that .the- native population-should not: left without the services of "amedical man,.,and while I approved-of i>r. Dawson proceeding to New , Zealand' to put,his position before the.Ministry there, granting him sis mouths , ' ]cavo of absence on full-pay "to do-so-(to which, ho .was 'not .entitled); I stipulated 'that in cdnsequenco of-•'certain developments this Administration should.bo.supphed with a locum tenens during,his absence. The Government were ; good : enough to send down -Or •-• Buck, whose services were greatly ap-. preciated ; by /both natives and 1 Euro*' .peans. ':■■•?.■ ■ - , ■■:■..■ v- -..-'.

.. ■-,- At tho . termination of Div'Buck's ■ agreement, ■ the-'New Zealand'Goyerjimonf'appeiiited'Dr.. Herbert' Chesson' ■ i.wieiß Mr. Hoskins admits to-be an able rasn. Let-r»e peint out hero.that interested Europeans poisoned the' «a»tives, niinda egainst this gentleman bet-ore he h»d an opportunity of winHiag their.cenfideeco by his ability. Loathsome Diseases "May Ba" ,•, ;■ Rampant. " "Tho fifth-paragraph states that syphilis and .other loathsomo diseases aro rampant. -This may.bo so. The' Act of 1904 gives tho: medical officer vorv-fiill powers to denl-with this class of work, which certainly wero not put into 'operation - , by Dγ, Dawsbn .durin" his short period of servipo under me or before my time. ; My report deals-with my..ideas.of..:what; I think. necessary forvtho the health of the nat»'«s, provided I am assisted" financially .from .home, It; must; a Iwajg bo' berne in' Mind that tho revenue- is a shjhtioney- nVid'-if'.thwie Islands'should' shall I mil.need 7,r more revenue tftan I etn pojsitlj supply for that'pur-' p»s» aloB» for 'some .two or three-years te eome. . The Remedy and the Revenue. '•■ 'Tor 22 -years 'prior to my arrival nothing whatever'was. spent ...by the JGovernment upon; the most fertile is'lande of, Mangaii, Aitutajci, Atiu, and" ißlauke, all of which are rich in natural ..- erange grores, no' facilities 'whatever being provided .to.eqab.le the natives to '■ cot their, produce t« tho outside marJcet. I .here «pent £1000 on Maugaia for this purpose, and £500 in Aitutaki, and it-is lay intention .'to-take a. veto '.' on peit : yeat's Estima'tes .. to provide : similar; fiCcilititj to" tho" equallj'.'rich" islands of Atiu: andi Maukei- \Vheri this work has been completed I feel sure that tho Administration 'will have enough revenue to devote to the jcaaili.

cal question without asking for any aid.from New Zealand. -You..know, of tho correspondence which has taken place on this, matter from time : to timo. -'.- Public Works "Strangely .sUn'dcr-,' estimated. , . , ,. ;;"! ''■ "By reforonco-to'tho estimates which wore handed to.rno.on.my. arrival, framed bv the - 'late Commissioner, "you will 'find, ' "continues I 'the- Commissioner, "that I was somewhat heavily handicapped financially, inasmuch as you will seo that a sum.of £600'.was'.therein provided "for'tho .erectionjof a , Couki'lslands 'Hospital'and doctor's residence - .- ' Other public works also upon thoso estimates were strangely underestimated. I had to proceed witlrsiich, works,: the hospital alone costing' '£1400. Mr.' Hosking criticises the fact that French windows which, he states, ■ wero ordered for the hospital-were sol-dto i» private citizen who built a house. .This'was tho first I over -heard of tho transaction. From i the engineer's report you will-seo that tho French windows referred to wore never intended , for the hospital/ cottage casements being provided-'for in the plans. ■ Bomo-French windows wore ob\ tained before my arrival fpr tho medical officer's residence, the .erection- of .which \ was' delayedi pending.; : .this!,',appointment of tho hew chief medical and health officer, and these were disposed of (without my knowledge) by the engineer and treasurer, in' accordance with a practice .permitted by. tho late Commissioner, and tho.amount .derived therefrom paid into itho„ Cook;; Islands.; ■ {Treasury.-= • j Sonio cement,.ordered for- , tho' samo building, being .-perishable, was also disposed of to l-lio^sanie.resident, and, as in the former ca'se,-- the-;pToceods werp. paid .'.into- tho. •Treasury,. ,in. both cases'at' , a.prbnt-'to ■ the. State;"-- . . ... ; 7^7--v ; 7;' ':

v ->~:• Enter Dr. Chesson.'; ■ ■' -Dr. ■vGhesso'n's memorandum/for the Resident. Commissioner,_on the ■ subjeci of. tlie criticisms of , the "medical "sc'rVict :.under..hip...administration, may. bo. coniVeniontly;introduced at'!|his stage.- : - Ht .states:-^--.,'•';■-.■ '■'■ - '' : ■'■■" ''' : "- ' ■.' -"After.carefully looking through the petition supposed to be signed by ovei 1000 natives, -I have only to say thai when I arrived at Rarotonga to assume the position of Chief Medical Officer for the group, tho.Jate Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dawson, was then in New Zealand. I found that.' the natives were coming very,; freely tothe hospital for, attention; and;lfhavo nof'doubt .that if' ; Dr,- Dawson had uot,"returned, .this..'iinpleasa'iilr jiesSj'would not'•'have arisen. ' It must bdxbpriie in inind thaf'T'rbad previous "experierico in .jmth natives at [.Vayau,.;where" no.trouble of any description' ."arpso in tho ■.medical department ;under,:my control. I am green to-un-derstand that when Dr.Dawson. returned to New Zealand it was with tho object bf putting-his supposed grievances bofore tho Jtnistcr, with, what icsult I do not know. Prior to my time. X)i. ..Dawson,had been in the ..nabit of; attending tho Europeans and supplying ; them 'wilhvdrugs in the same manner-as..tho natives, viz., free of charge; ..■You a re. aware-that it was , agreeJ botwocii the ; 'Miriister and'myself, beforo-1 accepted the position, that il.,was:to:.h.a.ve..tho; jrigW, of private ;practico ~aniong ..the Europeans, iii.'■ addition. ixj,£,doo.;a; : .year;.pa,.i(l. by tho Cook il-s!ands ; .-.Qoveram,ent ) -;.: j a.,ndjfrco quarters. 7 7 .U.-'.'Ey,eii.vsini;e; section' of the iiuropeans. nd'doiibf resenting this ouargOj--have made-things very l un--pleasant for me/ although they'rdo not state this to' Bβ tho reason prompting tho petition. I,place, .myself entirely m tho hands :.qt- tho-3fow, Zealand Government, and' prepared; if > suitableemployment is ; found ,fb'r v me. .'in the .PjiblicirHtealfli p'r--bth|r. ; :D.(jpa:rtiifeiit, to' *^ a g^» : /t?; to ; myseKi : '^b^Tßtn^ipTt r has' meant,rerijafii.';MonofJry-'%s' ! ''to'"' ; m«, as' it was:never-;csnteinplated-b#£th6 New' Zealand . Government ■;- ; - CookIslands Administeation*.tlia't.;Dfl Daw-' : son-would return ■■arid\assiiino private practice in a small;community such asthis. :. ' . . . "From -recent, events which have transpired by the publication in The Dominion, it is quite, clear .that tho .attack. made upon the • CooKvlslarids: ■Administration is a purely • ■orjDf, Dawson, when io. cairfeYto :tKe jo'sprtalfto seo about gettingf'dr.uga" to .take .with him on a trip ho was "making • '%fe9d&.at,.'his' fight: was 'witli;■■ itiie' :Govei-riment.;solely, though I would.be" ;the to>'suffer. - :■.-..,.•'..•. ;l:7 : 7::,K#aS:;ci.;-- -. .?"v;v>'/".". ; ■■:|.-. v -;i>pri>;D?Js(s^ i n'B>." Influencs." . : 7' : ,'l::unders&n"d':j9u' iave to. :t-lie.;Hon ; .';;..Jlifl : i^t6 r :, was ourselves as to }What"shgulds;Bo done-at onco ; fpr the' health'ofjthe people. Thero':\is -;nodoubt .that.: untili a medical. officer:'' ar-' Tives, -and I am relieved to enable,' irio' to 'proceed to tho outlying islands "'to' ■report-.generally 'to you on the health , of :he natives, nothing can bo done in tho direction,of to tho Minis-.tcr-in-Charga-'as ..outlined in your last animal report'. Although I am prepared to place myself entirely in tho hands of yourself vand tho. Minister, I, might be pardoned „ in. saying that I think it to listen tb : thi ? .-;pctitipn/ > for.twhile i; :|)r. Dawson rsmaij^^p>B ,^h;iß^s]an4ja'ny' continues n !??p*.;tho'.ii|ifes-as'--h6 has done,m; ■, my ;■ case'/., no '■ other, •-.-mbdical man could, '.for. some.' long- period; , satisfy- tho' demands ;made : .by r . the "natives. I have 1 at,;aH.,Wntes;becn;-willing ; ,fo'.attend-: tb; alt'cases'iu'whicli'my'scrvijes were required,, and'have'-attended' at the hos-' ; pital during tho'hours laid down in the regulations for the , ' , conduct of- ; the Avarua Hospital. .1 have always treated the natives courteously,- and with every care and kindness, and performed my duties, conscientiously" ;ttf the best of mv ability."...,,—.. ...1:...:.:,; . ■-.-•''

Mr. : Hosking :•'the Principal Factor." , - Naming- again. 'ihe'rthe "co'm'missioner's letter,:;;-' ■■ r ',:■-■'■::■: :>■■?': . •:-■; ■. . .

y'.Jt.is.an^unquest.io.nedifact,'' asserts ;t}io: Commissioner aiuhis/memorandum, • that-wlulo-'I. was on my , visit to the •northern islands was tho -principal)factor''in' promoting tho peti--tion-foivthe jetontion of Dr. Dawson and the: removal of Dr. Chesson. Mr. had left the island before I ■ returned, and.it is a coineidenco that his; articlo in The Dominion reached Rarotonga practically, simultaneously with tho presentation of tho petition." LIQUOR ANDI THE LAW. . LAXITY IN THE BOND DENIED. The next sections of tho memorandum deals with Mr. Hosking's criticism' of tho administration of tho liquor laws. ! Continuing': : ■ "His (Mr. Hosking's), paragraph referring''to the control of, tho liquor traffic might givo tho impression to QUtsido people that tho officer controlling if is not fit to bold his ' position, that officer being tho Collector of Customs, who really has' to administer this Act. You will not-o in my annual report .A short referenco to tho manner ■ in which'ho conducts this business. Since I have been governing tho islands ■ no complaint- could possibly bo - made of his strict ■ administration of tho Act, except possibly by peonlo whom he does not think 'it desirable—Europeans— to isBUO liquor to." -,■.'•■■ ■ Tim Collector of Customs. Attached to tho memorandum is ■■' a note from tho Collector of Customs (Mr W. J Stevenson), which may conveniently bo referred to at this stage Mr • Stevenson says that with' reforenco to .the_st(iteneiits - ..mado by Mr. Hoskinoin The Dominion .in-regard to tho con--'trol of liquor in Barotonga, , tho state-' moats are not in accordance witli fa'et air. Hosking) states that liquor supplied to whito people finds its way into the bauds of the natives. Most of

the white people-, says Mr. Stevenson, import their liquor through him, and when it arrives it is put into bond and given out in small quantities at his discretion, and since ho has been in charge for the past,five years-it had been one standing complaint on tho part'of the white peonlo that he kept them on such limited sunplies that they could not get sufficient "for themselves, Jot alone giving it to tho ' natives. Only tho medical officer and tho Collector of, Customs have issued permits in Rarotonga. No permits are granted te.young peoplo,'hut to thoso only who are well advanced in years, and then very sparingly. If imported liquor was abused to any extent tho representatives of the London Missionary Society and other missionary societies would he the first to complain. Up to the present, Mr. Stevenson says ho has heard no complaints. Further evidence of v ? nioagreness of supplies is established by the fact that duriufe'his (Mr.' Stevenson's) stay in Barotonga neither a white person nor a native has appeared' in Court charged with being drunk on imported liquor. . . . Mr. Stevenson does not think much liquor is smuggled in. An officer is continually on the wharf, dunns each vessel's stay, in port. ;AII baggage is carefully ■ examined and occasionally a surprise visit is sprung | on the ship's labour by ordering all hands into a shed, and "a' thorough search made. Liquor has been found only on two occasions, and then only in very small quantities." kut" l^ 110 ! ,15 ' o,l ' Mr ' Stevenson says' : Mr.. Hosking speaks of the Administration making a profit from the sale of liquor. My reply is, that wero pai't pt ,'my, .salary charged against the' W°, r ,.account, as strictly speaking/it bo, the profit would beinfinitesii?i a ', ' m ,'ght mention in conclusion |that the .leading white people at the .island, have-voluntarily approached me,' >and statcd.-thftt.thoy do not agree withremarks on tho liquor iqucstiqn."-- .■'■ • ■ • '• ' The Commissioner as Magistrate. Concluding portion .. of Captain smith's memorandum:— 'His (Mr. Hosking's) ..remarks with regard to the conduct of the Court," observes the Commissioner, "I do not tonk it necessary to reply, to further than to draw attention to the decrease I in bush-beer drinking cases of C 6 during my first, year, compared with-the previous year. Reference was made-to the case of a Tabitian, ,a Fi-nch subject, and my action -i. in.-,refusing -.-theservices of an English ; adviser. -- I: am sorry to say that' all Mr. Hosking's' .statements are similar to this. This case was taken, at the tlio .manager for an Auckland firm, and until I satisfied myself in open Court whether tho manager- possessod.a power ot attorney from his principal to take a penal charge against a French subject, i did not think it necessary to entertain the question of an English adviser. Tho manager did not possess a power of attorney, and the case.was adjourned for the opinion of,his-prin-cipal ill Auckland, who has sinco called-on-me tp.thauk me for protecting'his interests!:in! tho-matter. Tho easo was withdrawn.] in .writing, bo'th. -parties bemg-quite satisfied with ■ the' Court's action., • ;ilao quostion was never ' re-" ferrejT: to. Jthe ~French authorities : or' ever thought-of. -. ' ,«..«»

' Police Inspector'"Hostile." . "Regarding; Mr. Hosking's inferenco that friction exists between myself and my staff I have .thought it advisable to submit the question to the members ot the staff themselves, and I now append ...their replies, which entirely dissipate the suggestion. I have, however, not referred', the matter, to tho fruit inspector,;,because-, I . have had .eommiinications; ,with.,tho - Head... Office regarding ,his7knowledge- of 'the; fruit industry, ; or, the-. ./.Inspector;' of. .Polico, ' who.l. know, to, bo-hostile, andis but a temporaryt officer, and: whose services .1 intend to dispense.:with.wh'en'-convoni- • "In conclusion, I havo only to say that after Dr.. Dawson's interview with you, and the acceptanco'of his resignation, a certain section of this -small commumty have made up their minds to make, .tljings as unpleasant, as .possible for.persons MriHosking,;,hjving'.rio:interest , in -the Islands whatsoever, no doubt Ms ■' acting on their advice as he has -no respond stake ° n shoulders or position -af ; "Ratlier Surprised" at "The Dominion." "I may be pardoned for saying'that 1 was rather surprised to know that a paper such as.l thought The Douikion was should so far forget what was duo .to. itself. ,as to, publish such alarmiri" nonsensoj bofore .making careful -inquiry' into . tho.matter.v:, Everything is, absolutely quiet and.,.orderly, notwitlistanding. the publioation of 'the article; Thot finances: 'of .-tho-'Admiiiistration ' are in' a, far sounder condition than they ever were beforo. For the first half of this financial. year , I have an increase of revenue of £569,. and I- have no doubt that at March 31 next I shall be in a position to state that" tho finances which, are. at the present time in a sounder,condit l on than has ever been tho case.hitherto, are even still more satisfactory 6 tafe of attained by sitting