COOK ISLANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1920, Page 5

COOK ISLANDS.

WHO SHOULD CONTROL? ' SEPARATED FROM SAMOA; By TelJjripli.— Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Hon. E. P. Lee (Minister of External Affairs) moved the second reading of the External Affairs Department Bill, which, he said,, was intended to restore to the representative of the Maori race in the Cahinet the administration of the Cook Islands. By an Act passed in 1919 those islands were placed under the Minister of External Affairs, but it was found there was nothing in common hetween the administration of Samoa and the Cook Islands, and it was less convenient to have these islands under the Department of External AfMrs than under the system of its former administration, which was equal to meet all its requirements. The Bill was merely a machinery measure to carry out the change. DIVISION OPPOSED. < Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) wanted to know whether the Minister of External Affairs had been exercising authority over the Cook Islands, or whether Dr. Pomare had been exercising authority there. It seemed to him the position was becoming unnecessarily complicated. He asked the Minister, in his reply, to take the House into his confidence, and tell them why the change was being made. Dr. A, K. . Newman (Wellington East) thought the Bill a retrograde measure which would operate badly, particularly in tlio development of trade. Two independent authorities, endeavoring to govern two groups of islands almost identical in nature must result in want of harmony, which would not be for the, good of the native communities. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) said he would call for a division against the Bill. 'He contended that the Cook Islands were going back under the present system of administration, and while we were playing the piper America was getting the trade of the Islands. He did not blame Dr. Pomare so much, bocause he was not a Minister with full power, but there was no doubt that external affairs should be under one Minister or another, and not divided between two Ministers.

Mr. L. M. Isitt (Chmtchurch North) suggested the withdrawal of the Bill, and, some more acceptable adjustment made. GOVERNMENTS VtEW.

Mr. Massey said the Cook Islands were part of New J?oaland, and the Department of External Affairs was set up not to deal with parts of New Zealand, but with things and countries outside of the Dominion, Therefore, there was nothing in the argument that the Minister of External Affairs must administer the Cook Islands. He eulogised the work of Dr. Pomare, which greatly i inproved affairs in the Islands. He had not been able to givo entire satisfaction to all sections of the Islands' community; that wa3 not possible, for there were conflicting interests between natives and • traders. Dr. Pomare, however,'had an inestimable advantage. He was a Polynesian himself, and he understood their language, manners, and customs, and for that reason he had been able to work harmoniously with the native people in a way no European could do. As to trade, Mr. Massey sft'id the Government was doing what it could under the circumstances. He admitted there was much to be done, but he did not think we were losing trade. The Hon. Dr. Pomare pointed out that the Cook and the Samoan Islands were some distance apart, and their interests were not identical. A thousand miles separated them, and in regard to shipping, one service would not suit them. Because -of the peculiar set of problems to bo overcome, it had been thought advisable that Samoa should be under a Minister with legal knowledge. Dr. Pomare quoted the imports and exports of the Cook Islands to show that Mr. Witty's statement that the Islands had retrogressed was incorrect. In 1902 the value of the Islands' imports were £27,633,' and in 1910 £142,000, and the export figures for the same period were £34,000 and .£127,000. Dr. Pomare chided Mr. Witty for not being more exact in his statement. As to the contention that traders in the Islands should have representation on the local council, he desired to state that this proposal was already being embodied in legislation. THE BILL PASSED.

Mr. H. E. Holland (Labor Leader) said that if the Cook Islands were an integral pa'rt of New Zealand the inhabitants should have direct representation in the House of Representatives. They would then be in a position to have their grievances placed before the Government. Mr. Lee, in reply, emphasised the point made by the* Premier that- the Cook Islands were part of New Zealand, and were not necessarily part of the Department of External' Affairs. After Sir James Allen left Dr. Ppmare had carried on the' administration of tho Islands, and the testimony before the House was that his administration had been a great success.

On tho. motion that the Bill be read a second time, Mr. Witty called for a division, and the motion was agreed to by 35 votes to IS.

The Bill was then put through committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed.