THE COOK ISLANDS REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1035, 26 August 1911, Page 4

THE COOK ISLANDS REPORT.

MR. MASSEY ATTACKS THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

In the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon, the report of the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) on the charges against the administration of Rarotonga came up for consideration. Mr R. A. Wright said the report was most unsatisfactory. The petitioners, who had asked for the enquiry, wanted evidence taken on oath with open doors. The report was uniair, unjust and biased. He moved that the report be referred back to the Chief Justice tor further consideration.

Mr C. A. C. Hardy seconded the motion.

Sir James Carroll said that nothing humanly possible would satisfy Mr Wright. They had certain responsibilities to discharge in connection with the administration of the Cook Islands, and he strongly objected to the matter being made a channel for Party politics. There had been nothing specific in the charges against the administration. Practically the whole trouble was that Dr Dawson could not get on with Captain Smith. The charges were ridiculous. Political feeling had something to do with them, and malcontents were stirring up strife. When the charges were analysed they were found to emanate from three persons. They were endeavouring to obtain from London a young medical man well up in tropical diseases to go to the islands, and they were arranging for a doctor to go round all the islands of the group. Dr Dawson was offered the official position at Niue, but he preferred to go to Rarotouga to start private practice. Considerable improvement had been made in. the management of the Islands since Captain Smith went there.

Mr Allen said a great deal ot what was alleged had been proved. The Resident Commissioner was not competent to deal with matters of justice or Land Court matters He charged the Government with having utilised the Chief Justice for purposes for which he ought not to have been utilised. It was not right that the Chief Justice should be asked to pronounce judgment on the Government. Dr Rangihoiroa said the complaints had been grossly exaggerrated, and he wondered if so much notice would have been taken of the report had it not been given a political aspect. Mr Stallworthy thought the report very fair. On resuming at 7.30 p.m., the Hon. Mr Fowlds said that the little bickerings of a small community had been magnified in an enormous way. A saner, straighter and soberer statement than that presented by the Chief Justice could not be possible. It had been received with satisfaction throughout the country. Mr W. H. Massey said that they had not done their duty in the matter, nor taken up their responsibilities. During recent years there had been much dissatisfaction expressed in the administration of the Cook Islands. He did not think it tight to have appointed Sir Robert Stout as Commissioner. The Chief Justice was tar too fond of secret inquiries. The country was sick of star chamber enquiries, and more would be heard of the matter before the end of the session. He deeply regretted that judges were brought into the arena of politics. The report was a report of counsel for the defence rather than of the Commissioner.

Mr A. E. Glover thought the report very satisfactory. Mr G. Laurenson was greatly concerned with the brutal and personal attacks made against the Chief justice. If the charges were to be made against any of our judges, they should be made straighttarwardly on the floor of the House, and not by suggestions and innuendo.

The Hon. A. T. Ngata pointed out that it was impossible for the revenue of Cook Islands to stand the strains that would be put upon it it some of the suggestions of members were put into effect. He would suggest that before all sorts of acts and conditions were introduced into the Islands that all intruders should be deported from Rarotonga and the Rarotongans left to themselves. These matters would be brought up continually. Sir Robert Stout’s report was deserving of respect.

Messrs Poole and Russell defended the report. Mr Wright, in reply, said the Chief Justice had been brought into the matter by the Government and given instructions. Probably some of the charges were not grave, but graver charges would have been brought had a proper enquiry been set up. , The motion was negatived on the voices, and the House rose at 11.30 p.m.