THE COOK ISLANDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 422, 2 August 1928, Page 8

THE COOK ISLANDS

SIR MAUI POMARE’S big moment in the House of Representatives—the presentation of his annual report on the Cook Islands and Niue administrations—Avas successfully negotiated last evening. The Cook Group, which is an integral part of tbe Dominion, has been passing through rather a trying period for the past two years, and it is good to have the Minister’s assurance that both administrations in this territory have carried on commendably through two difficult years, without making undue demands on the parent administration to fill depleted coffers. So far as the well-being of the Islanders is concerned, the New Zealand Government has nothing to fear from criticism. Births continue to show an increase over deaths; every known case of leprosy has been sent to Mokogai for treatment, and the educational system——providing free tuition in the vernacular for the natives and technical education in subjects that are of particular use to Cook Islanders—is functioning Avell. The Islanders have no desire for direct representation in the NeAV Zealand Parliament. Their councils, according to Sir Maui Pomare, have unanimously rejected such proposals. These island councils, the constitution of which permits women to vote and act as members, make laAvs up to a certain point for the good government of their territory. The desire to continue without direct representation may possibly be due to the unquestioned popularity of the Minister-in-Charge, and the trust placed in him by Cook Islanders. It Avould seem, hoAvever, that apart from occasional financial stringency—almost unavoidable in islands dependent on the fruit trade—the Rarotongans have very little reason for complaint Avith the existing order of things.