COOK ISLANDERS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1933, Page 7

COOK ISLANDERS

A VERY GENEROUS PEOPLE.

HELP POR N.Z. RELIEF FUND

WELLINGTON, November 27

, Visitors to the Cook Gi-oup invariably carry away with them a deep, impression of the Wonderful hospitality and generosity of th 2 , Polynesian people of these sunny islands of 1 the Pacific. Those who arei privileged to delve deeper into their lives know that ■ the Maori • people of the Cook..

Group are much devoted to New Zealand, and are proud of their attachi blent and loyalty to the Crown.

i i, Much has been'done through various ■ vice-regal visits to. strengthen the ; feelings of devotion of the people to ’ New Zealand, ami the visit to R,aro- • tonga, in April last of Their Excel-' ' lercies the Governor-General, and. Lady | Bledisloe is still a pleasurable topic of j conversation throughout the Group. | Their appreciation has found expresJ sion in a. generous response to the Governor-General’s relief of distress fund. From time to time over the ! past six months supplies of typical Island foodstuffs, such a taro, bananas, coconuts, and coffee, hav,e, come forward for distribution by the adminisI trators of the fund. The latest conj signment included six tons of kumaras; | Typical of this generous spirit is ' an incident at the Island of Atiu dur-

ing a recent official visit, when the people, in addition to providing foodstuffs for the fund,, donated a roll of tapa. cloth. It was explained that Atiu was a poor island, that the people had little to offer, but that they had heard of the visit to Rarotonga of Their Excellencies and of the appeal that was then being made, and' they wished to do something to assist. -So they decided to give tn.pa (native cloth made from the Hark of wild mulberry) because that was a work upon which they could all labour, young, old, male, and female;' and they had done so. The result

was before their,eyes, .and was offered as a gift, from'the people of Atiu with' a suggestion that it be sold; for the benefit of the people of the Dominion in;their times of:stress.' The/tapa was an . exceptionally, large roll, - arid must have involved many hours of labour. Other Islands, of the group, including Rarotonga, Mangain and Mauke, have all contributed from their very limited resources to the fund—not only foodstuffs but donations in cash.

The Maori Girl Guides of Rarotonga have supplied .coffee and the school children have, planted considerable areas of kumaras—all in the general desire to assist the fund. The native people are not alone in their help, for a substantial cheque has been received by the secretary .-"to the trustees of the fund from the European residents of the group.