THE ISLANDS VISIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 133, 1 March 1920, Page 5

THE ISLANDS VISIT

QUESTION OF ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ASKED FOR d Harotonija, February 20 (delayed). Sir .Tamos Allen, replying to tho Mangaia Island Council, said it was likely that a wireless telephone would eventu. ally, connect the islands with fiarotonga. 'a A canoe, when returnrng. and contninle ing Sir Jamc Allen, Sir ITeaton Rhodes, 10 and Colonel Tate, swamped off tho reef. 11 A hazardous transfer to_ another canoo ,0 was safely accomplished, and all T<as >- well. d Deputations at Knrotonga to-day largely d referred to the policy of the Administra- :- tion. The Native Council and the Nay five Growers' Association both made y grateful acknowledgment of the benefits e received under Mr. Platts's administra--0 tion. The planters are hn=Kl<> to wnat i, they term the Commissioner's use of d his powers to tho detrimont of their interests. especially in connection with tho a formation of an association of nativp e -rowers to ship their own produce. The f arikis requested the restoration of their 1 nwna 'by a return to the feudal land cons trol. t Sir .Tames Allen endorsed Mr. Plattss action in finding for the natives a free a market, and promised thnt the Governr ment would assist the Commissioner'' p representations to the shipping company 0 for moro shipping and "n adequate allotment of space. The Governs ment was experimenting with ' cold storage with a view to hclps imr the Island fruit trade. Sir .Tames 1 Allen also stated that arrangements were i in .progress for the establishment of a I local credit bank. 1 Answering a member's question, tlif t native growers said the wastage of the fruit crop last year was owing to the lack of shipping end amounted to three-fifths I of the cron. Tliev considered the pooling t of their produce under Government , vision, with edvances bv a credit bank, - desirable. A European renuest for representation on the Tsland Council was op- , po«°d bv the natives. ■ Sir James Allen said that when the Islands wee annexed the Government' promised them representative institutions, •'Hint promise would not b° broken. Nevertheless he would be triad if the Council would invite European representation. Members asked many questions and mueh evidence was taken. Sir .Tames Allen announced thet failing European representation, the Government would annoint an advisory board to assist , the Commissioner, thus Tecocrnising the European tnxpavers' right to a voice in the administration. A deputation of Europenn_ traders and planters asked for a commission to inquire into the whole question of the administration. They, toolc the strongest exception to a statement bv Mr. Plntts that there was a ring which controlled prices for copra, and denied that they hindered the natives from setting snacs and cases, or compelled them to sell to the traders Tather than consign to the ' open market. Mr. Platte confirmed his statement that a copra ring existed, making large profits, and added that so long as he was Commissioner he believed it to be his duty to break that ring or any other combination operating against the native interests. That was his policy of administration. . Sir James Allen appealed for moro friendly relations, and that the proposed advisory board would assist. A traders' representative, replving, said that they would never be satisfied without a commission of inquiry.—Press Assn.