POSTMASTER’S RETURN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 88, 8 January 1935, Page 7

POSTMASTER’S RETURN

Mail-day Excitement at Cook Islands SAVINGS OF NATIVES 11 . Returned to Wellington on holiday and transfer leave after four years as chief postmaster In the Cook Islands, Mr. G. H. Davis commented on mail methods in the islands and also on the development of thrift among the natives, reflected* in the continual growth of the post office savings bank business. He was one of the passengers in the Maunganui. “All mails arrive at Rarotonga <?nce a month, and at such times the place is transformed into a scene of terrific activity.” he said. “If it is on a Saturday that the mailboat arrives the business community has to set to work feverishly to get their mail away by Monday. The mail between the islands is carried by schooners, and ‘schooner day.’ both inward and outward, is a .time of considerable excitement among the natives.”

The post office savings bank. Mr. Davis said, had been in existence for about eight years. The natives were small depositors on the whole, but most of them seemed to aim at having a small savings bank account. The accounts now numbered about 1500. DO per cent, of them owned by natives, including many of those on outlying islands.

He had found it very pleasant work dealing with, the native people of the Cook Islands, whose outstanding characteristic was their courtesy, Mr. Davis added.

Mr. J. D. Fahey, who has been assistant at the wireless station at Raro■uga, also arrived by the Maunganui. He is on holiday, and at the end of his vacation he too will be stationed in New Zealand.