COOK ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1554, 25 September 1912, Page 3

COOK ISLANDS.

REPORT UPON A PETITION. INQUIRY REFUSED. STATEMENT BY DR. POMARE. A long and at times acrimonious discussion upon the administration of tho Cook Islands arose in tho Honseof Representatives yesterday, when JXr. H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) presented tho report of tho II to Z Committee-upon tho petition of Wjafrith. ReveU Reynolds (lato of Rnrotsnga, but now resident in Wellington).. praying for the removal of Captain James Eman. Smith T'rom -the office of Resident 'Commissioner, etc.,-in the Cook Islands, .rod for an inquiry into tho state of affair* at present obtaining in theso Islands in legal, social, aud general matters. The. committee reported as follows :— '"That after having heard tho evidence in this case, your committee is of opinion that nothing has been proved detrimental to the administration of, or tho personal character of, Captain James Eman Smith, tho Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands, aud therefore your committee lias no recommendation to make on the .petition." An Inquiry Demanded.' Mr. J. H. Escott (Pahiatua) said that ho very much regretted that the Committee had not recommended the holding of an inquiry at which "evidence would ho taken on oath. No gre.it value attached to tho inquiry held by the Chief Justice, because some of tho persons chiefly interested had stated beforehand that they would not give evidence at the inquiry unless evidence were taken on oath. In support of his contention that an inquiry should bo held into the administration of the Cook Islands, Mr. Escott read a letter from Mr. ,W.' R.' Reynolds, published.in-The Dominion - about a week agu. While the reading was in progress Sir. Escott was scveraltimes interrupted by Opposition members. Mr. Laurenson, Mr. Isitt, and Mr. Buddo successively raised points of' order, but the Speaker ruled against them, and Mr. Escott was /Sllowed to proceed. Mr. Escott said that the report, of tho Chief Justice hart in- ; dieated that there was lax administration of the licensing laws at Rarotonga, and letters in his.own.possession indicated that the administration of these laws had not since been put on a better footing. Mi'. Escott read two letters, including one from Mr. A. P. Ambridge, a resident of Rarotonga, who stated that a permit to ' purchase liquor had been gTanted by tho Government medical officer to a -native who was not sober. Mr. Escott said that he had a quantity of information in his. possession which he would take ■a ■ future opportunity of laying before the House if an inquiry were not granted. Mr. Laurenson and Mr. Wilson both rose to speak, and each was very anxious to givo way to the other. In'the-delay the Speaker put' tho .question, and Mr. Laurenson took his opportunity; ■'•■ Views of Mr. Laurenson. Mr. G. Laurenson (Lyttelton) said" that the letter the member had read, .and the petition were from a man who had been proven before the committee! to be a liar. Men on both sides of politics had been on that committee, and, with tho exception of the mover of the petition, the committee had been unanimous about the report. No party had entered into tho question at all. If Mr. Escott had been on tho committee he would not havo read a letter from ."that man, a'discharge'd policeman from the Islands." Mr. Escott would not have come before the House with his long story. And on the authority of whom? This man Reynolds. "You would not hang.a dog on his evidence," he said. The coramitfeo had been unanimous in its finding on the petition. Mr. Escott: Aro you satisfied with tho administration of the Cook Islands?

Mr. Laurenson: ."We had nothing to do with the administration;.' wo wero dealing with charges against the officer in" control of the Cook Islands." He went "on to say that.lie was anxious that a searching inquiry should: be held into Cook Island affairs, and he hoped tho Minister in ■charge would himself- go, to tho Cook Islands and investigate matters thoroughly. It was quite evident that tho health of the natives'was not what it ought to be, and he thought it was the duty of tho Government to take some action. It might even be open to question whether tho adr ministration of the Cook [Islands by the New Zealand Government had been a success from a moral point of view. It was clear at any rate that most of the disease that was rampant among tho Natives was imported by white men. Its spread among 'the primitive people in the Islands was very rapid after that. Ho urged that it was eminently to be desired that persons suffering from contagious diseases: thero should bo isolated. Mr. Laurenson read lengthy extracts from evidence taken boforo tho Committee. Mr. C. IC. Wilson said that one- pieco of ; the evidence was incorrect. Mr. Laurenson replied that he was .reading from the official report of evidence taken. Mr. Wilson protested that as a member of tho Committee ho had not received a copy of the evidence, and ho had attended tho .Committee. He protested that in one particular at least tho'evidence was incorrectly reported. Mr.. Laurenson: Next, it will be suggested .that the shorthand reporter is telling lies to shield the Government. Mr. Bell: Not this Government. Mr. Laurenson continued his reading of the evidence given by Mr. ■Reynolds, punctuating it with remarks, that Mr. Reynolds "was discharged for condoning a felony," and that Mr. Reynolds was "an abject liar." He stated that Mr. Reynolds had denied in evidence that ho had' written any letter reflecting on the Committee of last, year, whereas, in fact,'he had written a letter to tho .Hon. A.' L. Herdman stating that the Committee was "one-sided and of a, severe Government majority." . ' Tho Horn D. Buddo (Kampoi) said that the gravamen of Air. Reynolds's charges was that Mr. Smith was a drunkard. This evidence had been disproved' by that of Dr. Chesspn. Successive Commissioners had encountered an unenviable task in endeavouring to cope with drunkenness generally in the Islands. As to Captain Eman Smith, all that need be said was that he was head of a Government Department before' he went to the Islands. All the members of the lite Ward Administration courted the fullest inquiry into anything that had been done at the Cook Islands during their term. Statement by Dr. Pomare. Tho Hon. Dr. Pomare said that he was glad that the committee had been practically unanimous in their report. Several allegations had been made and misrepresentations had been printed in the press in regard to tho Cook Islands. He had not felt' it incumbent on him at the timo to niako any reply, because the matter was then sub judice. He had not wished to cast a reflection upon a matter that was being considered by a committee of the House. A letter bad been read that afternoon written by the petitioner at the time when the House was considering his petition. He did not think that any man who had a case before the ' House r,r before a Court of Justice should be rushing into print, prejudicing the minds of those who might be his judges. This alone had prevented his making any remark upon the statements printed in The Dominion some time ago.

Captain Smith's Position.' Captain Smith had received, as head of Hib Old Age Pensions Department here, a salary of .EGOO per annum, and Captain Smith was still receiving a salary of £60(1 per annum. Mr. "U"ilford: And a very good head he was of that Department. Dr. Pomare: Certainly, I quite ap-reu with the. lion, gentleman. Ho added that 'while Captain Smith'was down in tho Cook Islands he had received, like other Commissioners, an allowance: of ,£IOO ,i year from the Cook Islands Administration. This allowance had not been paid since Captain Smith's return. It had been found necessary to create a separate Depri'tment because previously the administration of the Cook Islands was <i sort of appendix that floated about from one Department to another. Under these conditions possibly (ho Cook Islands had not. got the 'consideration to which they were entitled. The administration of the Islands had passed from the Governor to the Prime Miriisterandat. length to any MinisteKwlwAiUMwitQ havft Isljuja It Mi

therefore, been considered that, in tho interests of the Islands and their better government, there should be a separate Department. Sir. Smith had been put at tho head of the new Department, as Secretary alone, and ho was still drawing his salary of JOTI a year. Among tho mauy things said in the paper, it had been said that the country was losing tho services of .Tudgo MacCormick, but he wonted to'say that they were not losing tho services of Judge MucCormick. Tho Cook Islands were part of New Zealand, and Judge JlacCormick, while there, was looking into Land Court matters. It was necessary for the better government of the Islands and to improve their producing capabilities that tho land ' should be partitioned. Judgo MacCormick was simply carrying out his duties at tho Islands, as he would bo if ho were still in Now Zealand, and so they were not losing bis services. Judgo MacCormick bad been asked, before this petition was inquired into this year, to make a full and complete report on tho administration of tho Cook Islands. Whon this report had been made, tho Government would bo iu a letter position to judge as to what ought lo bo done in these Islands.

Permits for Liquor. ■ Some hon. gentlemen had read letters in regard to the medical officer down in the Islands, and tho .-permits for liquor. If ho were a layman he would not put •his judgment up against that of a medical man as to when alcohol should be prescribed. ' (Laughter.) Dr. Poniare said that this opinion would hit the member for" Christchnrch North on tho wlar plexus. Anything like that always hit Mr. Isitt on 'tho solar plexus. Allegations had been made against officers in connection with drinking,"at the Islands, but it was better to tako a doctor's opinion than that of a layman or that of tho member for Christchurch North. Mr. Isitt: Where do you get your degrees from? That's the point. Dr. Pomare: "That is.better than somegentlemen who have not 'got any degrees at all. and will never be able to gat them!" Ho continued that the Church Missionary Society bad been forking in tho Cook group for SO years. There had been 80 years pf Christian training, and yet it was said the Islanders down there were immoral. What did this say for the Church ? Health of the Natives. In regard to the health of the Islands, Dr. l'omaro continued, ho did not. suppose there was a member of tho House who had devoted moro time to this one subject than himself. He had'given ten years of his life to promoting the health of his own people, and six months of this time he had spent (six years ago) at the. Cook Islands. Anyone wanting to say anything about the health of theso Islands should see tho recommendations made by himself six years ago when the party opposito was in power. Much was said in the papers about the lepers. It had been said that the food of the people of New Zealand would bo contaminated, and all that sort of thing. • Some people- wero alarmist of'tho worst kind. There wero only 37 leprosy in the whole of the Cook Islands, which had a population of 12,000. Very few of the lepers wero near the places at which steamers called, and even in these placss the lepers had been isolated, so that they could not by 'any possibility communicate with the steamers. In New Zealand lepers wero segregated on an island in Lyttelt-n harbour. Of four cases treated'at Lyttelton two had been cured. It was hoped that before long something of the same sort would be effected at the Cool: Islands. So far as could bo ascertained, there wero ho lepers at large in the Islands. As snon as tho Government got a full report from Judge MacCormick they 'would know .what they should do. It had been said .that. Captain Smith had-been unfitted'to tako up his position at the Islands, that tho.Natives had been in a turmoil about him, anil so on. Against this, ho would read what some of the Arikis of the Islands had said about the lato Resident Commissioner. Tho chiefs had said that tho administration was good, and that they had' no complaint whatever to make against it. These speeches of tho Arikis, Dr. Pomara stated, -wero included in Sir-Robert Stout's re"port."...lf there ,was/:tlie.'state of discontent .which had been spoken of. with the natives verging on civil war, how was it that .the chiefs had spoken as they ,had? I • Mr. Escott: Why was evidence-riot'taken on oath ?

: Dr. Pomare: That may be asked of the past Government.. I am only telling you what I find here, and which has been justified by tte> report of the M. to Z Committee, that the demand for an"inquiry is unfounded. Some Reforms Urgently Needed. . Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christehurch North) questioned the dictum that the judgment of a doctor as to when alcohol ought to bo prescribed could always be relied upon. He had known doctors who were ready to prescribe liquor for-any complaint—from a bald head to a. cork leg. Dr. Pomare: What degrees did thoy have? Mr. Isitt: The honourable gentleman has taunted me with not having had an opportunity tp get a degree. I may" tell him that when I was in America I was offered an M.A. and a D.D. for £17 10s., and a treatise. And that didn't tempt me. Continuing, he argued that it was unfair to reproach the Christian missionaries on. tho Islands for" the drunken habits of the natives—especially in regard to bush beer-drinking. This could not be prevented by moral suasion. What was needed was stricter police control. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said there had doubtless teen some mismanagement in connection with the Go\> eminent of the Cook Islands, and ;ho hoped the Government would set up an independent commission to inquire into "tho administration. It would bo very easy, he thought, to eradicate drunkenness on the Islands. In reply to Mr. Laurenson, he paid that leprosy was brought to the islands from Asia by the Maoris themselves hundreds of years ago. In the Cook Islands, as in New Zealand, leprosy had been common among the Maoris, but now, with better feeding, the spread of leprosy was being arrested. He admitted that • Captain Smith was probably a capablo enough officer in his department before he went to the Cook Islands, but lie was none the less unfitted to take charge of the Cook Islands, because of his ignorance of Maori affairs. The distrust of the Cook Islands administration was so widespread in the country that people would not bo satisfied unless the Government set up a commission to make inquiry and to report next session. ■ Agreement as to the Inquiry. Mr. G. J. Anderson (Mataura) supported the proposal that a commission ought to- inquire. As proof that something was radically wrong with the Cook Islands Government, he repeated the story of tho convicted criminal who was given leave from gaol to attend a. picture show. Tho Government needed tho advice of a committee of sensible men of tho world who could disepver tho truth about the Cook Islands.

Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) said ho was gratified to hud that tho committee this year had justified the decision of last year's committee, which had refused to make a recommendation after hearing only ono side of the question. He did not think a commission was necessary. He urged rather that the new Minister in the new Government could be left to reorganise the control of the Islands. He quoted figures to show that the material welfare of tho Islands had improved very much under the administration of tho Nov,- Zealand Government, and (hat the number of cases of bush beer-drinking showed a marked decrease in recent years.

Mr. A. Harris (Wailemnta) agreed that inquiry was necessary because of tho suspicion that existed in the minds of the people of New Zealand that things were not all right in the. Government of the Cook Islands. He was not prepared to say what the inquiry would disclose, nor would he offer any opinion as to how the inquiry should be conducted.

Captain Smith and Mr. Reynolds. Jlr. C. K. Wilson (Tnumarunui) said that ovory attempt possible was being made to burk proper inquiry into Cook Island affairs. On the evidence .before the committee, the committee probably could not come to any other conclusion. Reynolds had been here all by himself, but it' it had been possible the petition would have been signed by half I he island if tho petitioners had been able to appear. Captain ' Smith had said he had dismissed Reynolds/ because he had condoned a' . felony, but in his evidence lie had admitted that six'weeks'previously be hod written to-the'Government, to the effect that ho' «'3.s soitt? to ditmiss Reynolds, hac.iiiiM ha CUiitiia SmttWjsould aat.ML«LXi&

liini. Personally, h P (Mr. Wilson) had not known Reynold? until a few weeks ago, but-ho (Mr. Wilson) spoke for the people at the Islands. Captain Smith hail shown that he was until for his position. Tie had shown want of tact in every shape and form, and every time u man opposed him he was sent away. Why, there had been a regular stream of medical officers to the Cook Islands! Were they all bad, wicked men? Right-, through his reports Captain Smith had endeavoured to mislead the House, ami lie had misled the House in regard to tho health of tlio Natives. As soon as fir. Dawson did anything to improve the health of the Native people he was opposed by Captain Smith. One of Reynolds's difficulties with Smith was that Reynolds was said to be too officious—be was bringing up too many cases. The reduction in the number of cases after Reynolds left was not due to efficiency but to laxity. Under Colonel Gudgeon prosecutions for bush beer drinking had been frequent, and Nntivcs had to go back into the bush to brew it—hence the term bush beer. Under the present administration, ' owing to laxity, Sunday was admittd to be a day of drunken orgies, and right in tho villages women and children complained that they were insulted by drunken Natives.

Drunkenness and Crime. Drunkenness and bush beer drinking was rampant right through the place. During the whole of Colonel Gudgeon's time there were no serious crimes committed at the Islands, but in the two and a half years of Captain Smith's time there had been two homicides, one serious assault with a. cane-knife, and one other serious assault. All these crimes were due to the lax administration, and tho extreme amount of drunkenness in the Islands. In regard to one of the homicides, Captain Smith had misled, the House by reporting that "there was no drink in the matter." But what came out at the trial? It had been shown that they were all beastly drunk. On another o'ecasien, in a drunken brawl, a man named Counell had had a piece bitten out of his leg by another Knlive. Bloodpoisoning supervened, and he lay in a critical condition for fix weeks. And although Council was Smith's own Public Works officer, there was no inquiry as to how he came by bis injury, and there had been no report of the assault. Jn spite of the. assurances of the Minister ■he challenged him to deny .that on the night of the murder of a Native by Wigmore the Natives ovnicd themselvesr.nd prepared to retaliate. They thought it was one of their own relations that had been killed, but when they found that tho man killed was a strange Native from another island tho' Native police were able to appease them. This had not been reported by Captain Smith. Ho hoped that the Government, would not be satisfied with the report of Judge MacCormick. A thorough inquiry was necessary. The Resident Commissioner had been recalled because the place became too hot for him, and it was only after he left that it was discovered that tho health of tho people was deplorable. I herecent report of Dr. Percival was a most damning, indictment upon the administration of tho Islands. Dr. Peroral was tho verv first man who had taken the troublo'to find out tho'real condition cl tho health of tho Natives, and now for the first time the House knew that the health of tho Islands was deplorable. Nothing bad been heard from Captain Smith aliout predominance of disease and filth among the Natives. He declared that the three or four thousand patients who went through the hospital did so in order to get permits for liquor. Ho urged Parliament to "take mi the White Mans Burden," and to do its duty by the people of Rarotonga. Mr. J. Craigie (Timaru) read on extract from Captain Smith' setting forth the facts immediately preceding Reynolds's dismissal. He also 'said that Reynolds's evidence was. to say tho least of it, inconsistent. He stated that dninkemio-'s had decreased under Captain.' Smith. Ho did not.seo bow the Committee could havo, found otherwise; but he, as a citizen, recognised that there was something to be put right at. the Islands. This must be done at whatever cost. :' Mr. Wilson asked that Mr. Craigio should read tho letter from Air. Stephenson, who was second in command at the; Islands, in which ho teok all blame- for tho condoning of the felony, if any such thing occurred. Unfortunately, he could not road the letterhimself; those members of-the Committee who had attended the sittings had not been given copies of the evidence, and those who had not attended had received copies. Mr. Craigio paid tho honourable member had put his side of tho case, and he had put his impression of it. The letter did not, ho thought, affect tho merits cf the case.

' The motion that the report bo tabled was carried.