The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1903. THE COOK ISLANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 193, 17 June 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1903. THE COOK ISLANDS.

Amongst those members of Parliament who visited the Cook Islands in the Mapouiiki lately was the Hon. W. 0. Carnerts', M.L.0., the editor and proprietor cf the Eli ham Mr Catncross has beeD referring to the mat; o:' in his paper, and considering his wide experience it is very muoh to be regretted that he has not seen his way to give his views in detail on the vexed question, and on the Islands generally. Public opinion in New Zsa liind is so mu.h divided that th<re are those who condemn the annexation of the Islands in apparently for no other reason than that it has been effected by the Seddon Government. There are others who are equally loud in their approval, apparently for the same reason. There i j , however, a large section of the people who are anxious to honestly decide whether it is a gocd or a bad thing fortbe colony. In a very short article in the Argus Mr Carncross says: -There appears to be an impression abroad, judging from some newspap?r paragraphs we havj read, that the Cook Islands are a source of financial lopsto New Zealand. This however, in not the case. At present the cost of administering these islands is very small and is counterbalanced by revenue. The last financial year resulted in a surplus of ,£3OO in excess of tha that of the previous years. Of course if the islands are to be developed there will have to be further expsnditure, but if revenue and expenuiture can be kept proportionately as at present the annexation of the islands will entail no burden. There appears to be a general concensus of opinion that, at any cost, the annexation of the islmds wis preferable to allowing them to fall under either German or Frerch coniro).