COOK ISLANDS TROUBLE SAID TO HAVE EASED

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1948, Page 7

COOK ISLANDS TROUBLE SAID TO HAVE EASED

AUCKLAND, April 12. The Cook Island workers,, as a whole did not, in his opinion, support, the militant section of their union- - the Cook Island Progressive Association —stated Mr C. C. Bayldon, an Auckland trader, who returned by the Maui Pomare • aftei? a tour of the .islands.Whatever hold the Communists had gained in the union recently seemed to be weakening, said Mr Bayldon. The average native was a good worker and satisfied with the conditions of work. Although watersiders made only eight shillings daily it must be realised that the cost of living in the islands was far below that in New ■Zealand. Mr Bayldon said there were big possibilities of development in the Cook Island groun. but the present shortage of shipping was arresting progress. CONSTABLES RETURN Six members of the police contingent which was sent to Rarotonga by air on March 5, as a precaution against wharf trouble u hen the Union Company’s Wairata arrived with cargo from New Zealand, returned to Auckland to-day by the steamei Maui Pomare, with Sergeant H. L. Smith in charge. Senior Sergeant W. S. Brown and six constables aie stilt in Rarotonga. _