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Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1929, Page 4

The suggestion that was made in Parliament last week that members should in the interest of the Dominion, be afforded the opportunity during the recess of visiting the Cook Islands, apparently met with less encouragement than was anticipated. The Minis teain charge of the Cook Islands, who is also Minister for Native Affairs, made his meaning sufficiently clear when he said that he had his own views on the subject of the visits of parliamentary parties to the islands under the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Government.' Sir Apirana’ Ngata regards the native races with a psychological eye, and it may be a sound conclusion on his part that they are best left undisturbed by invasions of light-hearted parliamentarians, armed with binoculars and note-books, and bent upon an outing ostensibly educational but mainly recreative. No doubt the idea of, a trip to summer seas at no expense to themselves appeals strongly to many members of Parliament. It means a pleasant jaunt on the pretext of studying on the spot and at first-hand matters in relation to which Parliament carries a definite responsibility, It can hardly .be questioned that, as has been represented, valuable information may be acquired by 'members in this way, but , their constituents can scarcely be expected to be enthusiastic about the enlargement of their views by travel of this kind. Apart from the expense to which the taxpayers would be put to finance such an excursion as that suggested, there is another aspect of the matter, says the Otago' Times in a critical comment, upon which the Minister has commented. This relates to the effect- upon the islanders themselves. If members ot our Legislature descend upon them, bringing with them their party feelings and differences, and giving expression to them among the native people, the effect may not be altogether desirable. It may mean disturbance and. perplexity of the native mind, and lead to the engendering in it of sentiments antagonistic to authority as exercised from New Zealand. If a suggestion of danger upon such a score, may appear altogether too fanciful to some, there is to be set against that view Sir Apirana Nga'ta's specific mention of Samoa as a territory in which some of the trouble lias been due, in his opinion, to a par- i liamentary visit. The Maui Pomare, j be it added, has not proved an asset so profitable to the country that the ' idea of employing her for a parliamentary picnic to the Cook Islands is i likely to be hailed with great satisfac- j tion by the public.