THE COOK ISLANDS AGAIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1554, 25 September 1912, Page 6

THE COOK ISLANDS AGAIN.

We are not very much concerned with the report or the M to Z Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives concerning the petition of Mrt. Reynolds respecting Cook Islands affairs. The petition is Wo years old, and many changes have taken place since it was first presented to Parliament. The principal request of the petitioner, for instance, was the removal of the then Resident Commissioner, and the Commissioner has since been removed. Moreover, Mr. Reynolds has been at a great disadvantage in having to conduct his own case before the Committee, and in not being able, owing to tho cost, and the distance the Islands arc from Wellington, to bring witnesses to support him in his contentions as to. the administration at the Islan'ds. The Committee had to find on tho evidence before it and we are not in a position to say whether or not that evidence was sufficient to warrant a finding in the petitioner's favour. But we do know- that more than sufficient evidence has been disclosed in Parliament and in the press of the country to make it imperative that the Massey Government should see that a full and searching inquiry by a competent tribunal is made. The attitude of the present Minister in charge of the Department is very disquieting. His speech in Parliament yesterday did 'little credit cither to himself or to the Government he belongs to, and we find it difficult to believe that the views he gave expression to voice the opinion of the Government on the mattors touched on. The outspokenness of the member for Taumarunui, Mr.. Wilson, following as it did on the temperately, but firmly expressed, opinions of Mr. Escott, Mr. Anderson, Dr. Newman, and Mr. Harris, who all urged the necessity for a proper inquiry, should mftke the Government realise that this question has gone too far to be trifled with. Mr. Wilson's indictment of the Cook Islands administration was n, scathing one and quite sufficient in itself to warrant the Government taking the action suggested. So far as Mn. Laurenson's bitter and vindictive attack on Mr. Reynolds is concerned, Hie public has now grown so familiar with these outbreaks from the member for Lyttolton, made, under cover of the protection of his Parliamentary privilege, that .they hardly call for reply. In fairness to. the petitioner, bowovev, it may be itntod that uven the Chief Justice, in hia reuort on

the Cook Islands, was forced to admit, after special inquiry into Mr. Reynolds's case, that the only charge made against him was that the Commissioner thought that he (Reynolds) whs hostile to him. To quote the exact words of the report:

Xo charge was made against Mr. Reynold'! on his dismissal or afterwards, save that, the Commissioner thought he was hostile- lo him. ... I believe that Mr. Reynolds is an honest man, but lacking somewhat in discretion. Captain Smith has made- no charge against .him. If an opportunity of employment in New Zealand should occur, 1 do not think that he bus done anything to forfeit his right to obtain such employment. . • . Further, if Mr. Reynolds desires to leavo linrotonga he should, in my opinion, have his passago paid.

Those were the views of the Chief Justice, and no one reading his report can venture to suggest that. they were prompted by any undue friendliness to Mr. Reynolds. It is quite time, however, that the position of affairs at the Cook Islands was fully cleared up regardless of the personal feelings of the Minister in charge of the Department or anyone else. This can only be done in a satisfactory manner at the Islands themselves. It would cost far too much to bring the witnesses hero and it is necessary also that whoever conducts the inquiry should have some idea of local conditions, which can only be gained by carrying out the investigations on the spot. The Prime Minister, we trust, will see his way to make a.definite announcement on the subject at an early date.