COOK ISLANDS AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1162, 24 June 1911, Page 6

COOK ISLANDS AFFAIRS

i- , THE SECRET INQUIRY AND OTHER MATTERS. PARTICULARS. •'(From Our Special. Reporter.) ' Rarotonga, Juno 15. Thefhnrest in the island is stated to bo rospon'siblo for the Government of New Zealand sending a special commissioner of the Maori race down to Rarotonga to mako;inquiries amongst tho Natives as to their';position and to'ascertain if they have tnny grievances which can bo remedied'. Tho task has been entrusted to a northern chief, To Heu Hou Tukino, who.is'at present prosecuting his inquiries. ' It is understood that ho will report to tho Hon. James Carroll on his return to 'Wellington, and that whatever steps nro taken will bo refcnecl to tho Rarotonga; Natives prior to any final action.

S'THE LIQUOR QUESTION. 'Whilst one section of tho inhabitants of theMsloml is* condemning oven tho modified liquor traffic at present in existence, and is striving to 'have no liquor nt aliy.admittecl, another section, it is stated,' intends taking E'dvantngo of tho presence of the Chief ji stice to put forward, a claim for a licensed house. A petition is to bo circulated asking that a licens6V.be granted to sell liquor' to Euro-peans,'-:aiul it is understood that a doputation'vwill bring tho matter before Sir Robert' Strut at an early date. Outside of a very small and sanguine section; it 19 notjanticipated .that.the petition will bo of any avail. In tho first place, tho advocates of license will ask for a full hotel license, failing this for a New Zealand wine and beer 3iCsi-.se, and as a third ■ string:tho Gothenburg system.

!A NATIVE GATHERING. & SPEECH ]BY.'MR; WALDEGRAVE. A'large-gathering of-natives was held in front of tho Courthouse at Avarua on June 13, when messages from tho Governor, the' Government,', and the natives of New-Zealand were read. In the course of an address to the natives, Mr. F. W. Waldegrave said he was there to represent the Government of Now Zealand, and to see things on their behalf. His Excellency-, the Governor had given him «, message.'condoling with .the • natives of Rarotohga on the death of Makea Ariki. 111 - ., Waldegrave proceeded to read tho •letter. He had also brought with him a message from tho Government of New ■Zealand, which message he also Toad. • 'You live hero in your island of Rarotoriga far away from New Zealand, con'tinued Mr. Waldegrave- A great sea rolls "between Rarotonga . and New Zealand; and you may think that yonr voice 'doe.-! liofc'Sfry over t.ho'sea to New Zenland, but that is not the case. The Government of New Zealand is .your, parent, and the parent hears tho voice of tho child no matter how far off it may bo. Therefore, don't be afraid, to-lift up your voice and toll tho Government of .New Zealand what, is in your hearts. The Government of, New Zealand wishes to help you, and to do everything in its po\v.cr to improve your conditions and so preserve your race. Tho Chief Justice-is here and I am here. Let us know,, what you wish, and we will take your wishes to the Government. When wo have gone away the Resident Commissioner will be here. He also will-listen to any reprcfientations von have to make. There may be people who try to sew dissension between vou and your- parent,, the Govern-ment.--Mv--advice to. you is-not to listen to them." They will do you no good. I intend to-visit you - all, in your villages, before I (.return to.:-N«w,Zea and. If then there is -anything yon wish to say I will be'riiadv to discuss- it with you. In conclusion. Mr. Waldegrave introduced Te Ten H™ Tukino. • a.. New Zealand Maori chief, who delivered a message from the New Zealand-Maoris. . Te Heu-Heu advised tho natives not. to part vith'j their lands; If they let their lands go,'-what -wero", they going to do for their children afterwards? He .has learned Hi of. they were, in the habit of drinking bush beer-r-t'uey must stop, thisHo could speak with authority on these two subiect's, because he was. a larstft landowner, and' in ,the place . where-, he. camo from 'there was prohibition. .' The speakers who acknowledged the greeting included Ria, Taikae, and Teiirn. Teura presented :a-written address from the Karika. Ariki family,-.who stated that -thev were living hero in peace. had no 'trouble—the Resident. Commissioner was performing his'office well, and ttiey knew of no wrons in. him or that he had done, and-ihe' bad not caused any trouble with them, n What ho" said to thorn they obeyed willingly under the Government. Ho was doing that work Hint he should do under his position, and' they stood and watched because they were-not yet'profoundly' wise that they could perceive the deep workinss of the law. -What, he did they.;the children, followed, for they could not learn all in one day. but they would ob-serve-all those things, that, might happen, in the future, and if .they found he did ■wrong' they; themselvesr-would tell of it. i. They desired a Government school to Wostablished here, so that their children rhiglit be taught. They did not wish tobo'ieft that, they became a lot of fools. 'There was another thing it was difficultfor them to do without.assistance. Here in their midst was an undesirable thing : —acts' of vice were being done, and men and womc-n were living together in the ramo^.house—living in.immorality. These tiling's were not so in days gone by. And now they saw; that there were Europeans in immorality, and had begotten children, therefore The Maori had followed that example, .v-Tliey., thought..Hie New Zealand Goverhrnen't'should help'them to do away" with this evil. They "left it to the Government, -tovframe a law. to meet the case. This the'"cause' of much evil in Hio'land!'"Tho address with a plea'.';for .assistance in improving the Maori-connection with'the fruit-trade; • • Before'fhe "gathering closed the natives' indicated "that they would havo further requests to.make-when tho representatives of the Government visited them at their villagc'3. ,'.-:'

vjOBJECT.TO SECRECY. WILL=JAPPEAL TO PARLIAMENT, ■ Theiy.fbllpwing "circular-letter to tho rcsidentsv:bf ,'Rarptonga had been issued by Drsi';Da\vson arid Hosking-and Mr. Reynoldsl'-.-under date; June 12:— "Owing to;the circulation of lying statements -niadej'by some'•'person or'persons unknown to tho effect that wo have failed with our- charges and, complaints,' and have backed., .down, • wo' wish everyono to know that', wo aro still of the opinion which wo have held ■ for so long.- The following"is'for general information, and can be verified if necessary:— "1. We hive all along desired an open inquiry'with evidence taken on oath. 2. His'-Hdhoiir the.. Chief Justice has told lis-that ho will only hold a private inquiry. : ~-~~- ■ "8. His Honour has r.lso said that ho has. no power to take evidence on oath, as the New Zealand authorities have not sanctioned it; ' "i. iWe have,nothing to fear at a public inquiry, and have refused in writing to either-give-evidence-or lay somo twenty further charges we have, ready, at a private intjui?y<, where the .oath will riot bb administered.' ■ ■'' ■■'■"■■ "5. We have informed his Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Robert' Stout, that we will at once take steps to lay the whole of the complaints beforo tho New ZeaVind Parliament." DR. HOSKING INTERVIEWED. In tho. course of an interview with your representative, Dr. Hbsking gave'a general statement as to Karotongan affairs. With regard to'the inquiry,' he said: "I have nothing to add to my'remarks made to his Honour, Sir Robert Stout, a' copy of which I have given you, except thai; if the Government expected to overawe us by tho personality and repute of tho man who was to conduct the inquiry, then tliey made a vast mistake. I do not think that the Government has either done its best to get at tho truth, or has shown any contidence in its position in the matter of Mr. Smith, from tho fact that it has been seen fit to send three men to go niatter--Sir Robert Stout, Mr. Waldcgrave, and' Hie Maori chief, To lieu Hon. The whole state of affairs appears to bo a deliberate' attempt to keep Sir Robert Stout from getting all tho information which ho should have been helped- to collect Te. Heu Heu has told

tho Maoris to tell him everything; Mr. Waldegravo has (old them in public to take- their complaints to him; and wo are told officially that Sir Robert Stout is officially asked to do the same collecting. From having a dearth of peoplo to attend' to us, we arc suddenly overrun with persons eager to help us get straight, but we'aro of tho humble opinion that two at least of these are neither so disinterested nor so sincere in tho niatter.as ono could wish. We have had samples of Government promises before this, and we aro losing faith in Government protestations of good faith. With regard to tho 20 further charges that we have in hand, there is every likelihood of theso being increased in tho near future, ami in the ovent of Parliament not taking steps to help us, a matter based on medical grounds will bo brought up, and, to say tho least of it, this matter will be a surprise to-tho public, and will open their eyes. Medical men will be particularly interested, I think. This will be a forlorn hope, so to speak, and touches such a ,gravo _matter that wo do not wish to bring it up until forced. I am personally satisfied that we have dono right in refusing to givo evidence, and in this wo have tho entire concurrence of the peoplo who are concerned on our side. It seems unfortunate that wo shall have to resort to personal and private matters, but wo aro forced into it by the tactics of the other side. Mr. Waldegravo has /made a speech, and has trodden on. delicate ground, and has demonstrated tho manner of his works very clearly. More will, wo hope, be heard of this matter.

[Mr. Waldegravo's speech is crowded out of this issue.]

The "Wairarapa Age" had the following comment yesterday upon the situation :— *'

"The Chief Justice and Mr. Waldograve have gone to the Cook Islands to investigate certain complaints concerning tho administration of affairs in those islands. Tho Chief Justice decided, on his arrival, that he v;ould exclude the press from tho inquiry. The public is thereforo to be kept in the dark concerning the alleged griovances until Sir Robert Stout makes his report. There is little wonder that those interested in the inquiry - have refrained from - giving evidence.' The Star Chamber method of conducting .business will not. appeal to the Cook Islanders any more than it appeals to tho average New Zealander."