THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1901.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 137, 16 April 1901, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1901.

Few people., we think, know much about the Cook Islands, which were taken within the jurisdiction of New .Zealand last ' session. The bulk of people ! probably approved of. the annexation from a vague idea that it . was a great and glorious thing to. extend our boundaries, and that : we were starting a great Imperialistic policy on a small scale ' on our own account. Put how 1 many knew anything of the actual state of affairs -on these islands, of the reasons for the annexation, or' of the actual ■ positive advantages or disadvan-' j tages to New Zealand bt the new ’ policy ? Probably not one in a; ’ hundred. The 'difficulties we* shstli have with these islands , considerable. The chief 1 they have been willing to jgin is that they are in a great politically and ■ Problems have arisen • them—strife and discord afJPsjpi [ rife .-that the : inhabitants ■ j been Unable to settle- themseiff^ : ■' and they look to the : { .to

them. For instate,, the Federal Parliament of the : islands failed, apparently, to obtain importance or influence. From its inception it seems to have Seen Ailed with the jbf the various arikis or ddminating the particular isldhd ffOtti which the representatives ward sent. These members, W seems, were not regarded by the inhabitants as repiesenting them or as being necessary to the welfare of the islands. This feeling was, no doubt, fostered by the arikis, whose ancestors had for hundreds of years governed the islands in accordance with Maori ideas (for the people are supposed to ba of the same race as the Maoris) and customs, and who could not see the necessity for reducing their powers by handing over any of their functions.to mere nobodies whose Words or actions would alike be without weight or mana. Another great difficulty is the land question. In Baratonga the bulk of the people are mere tenants at will, subject to the wishes or whims of the arikis or chiefs. The problem will be to secure fixity of tenure for the actual workers without at the same time appearing to ignore the claims and authority of the chiefs. Moreover, there are great disputes as to the ownership of lauds, the settlement of which will be exceedingly difficult and require delicate handling. Again, if these islands are to be part of New Zealand, must we not give them whatever advantages we

ourselves enjoy? Must we not give them education, justice (with

magistrates, judges and police), posts, telegraphs, roads, bridges, and so on through the long list that will suggest itself to the mind of ? Who is to pay for this ? Not the islanders, we jimagiue. They could not do it, A)/eady we have started our outover our new possessions. Last year £SOOO was voted to buy an oil-engine vessel to run between the various islands. This is only a beginning. There will be plenty more to follow. Sometimes tii - argument is used that New Zealand had to annex tha islands to prevent foreign powers seizing them and establishing stations there. But there is not very much in this, because, as far as we can gather, all these islands were really under British control long ago. All that was actually done last session was to bring the group within the boundaries of New Zealand. No foreign power could have interfered with any of them without Great Britain’s consent. On the other hand, there was a necessity that some British authority directly interested and near at hand should step in, for the San Francisco people were rapidly getting their clutches; financially and commercially, on these islands. Major Gudgeon says : “ One thing, however, is clear, that only the New Zealand tariff (which, presumably, will apply now to the groiup) can prevent the trade of these islands going bodily to San Francisco. Already the copra is

going to America, and it is clear that the Spreckles line of steamers will be run in the interest of producers, and will therefore be supported as against the Union Company should, it be, found advisable to continue the line through it® New Zealand.” Again, it is probable that the trade of these islands would be advantageous to New, Zealand. They produce copra, coffee, arrowroot, vanilla, fruits of many different .kinds, sugar, and sundry other important articles of value for use or consumption. Under pr.6p.er laws, the productiveness of the islands would be enormously increased. For instance, Major Gudgeon says ; “ At the present moment Baratohga pro . daces ’ about 200 toaf of' copra' annually* whereas, if properly; naanaged, it might, at the most ihoderafo-COinphtatioQ, yield 1500 tuba.-* -And what is true, of copra ie equally true of dhe, Mother products. .Now,: Ibis is important to us, for we, bhy,aU these products, and therei this -remarkable featuic in the business, namely, tbaji almost penny wopayforr them is*, haptled ka°i again tp us in the/

supply to tie islanded &s£bas tinned m&ts' floor staffs, or food 6t Obviously, then, bur policy will bring as #espojw|bilities worry, trouble and»ahilety I but, on the other band, the probabilities are that it Will bring us,’also, increased prestige add importance, increased trade and commerce, and that the net result of the alliance will be entirely satisfactory to both of the contracting parties.

The banquet given on Thursday night to Dr Barclay, as an appreciation of his services while Mayor of Waimate, was a great success in every way. It shows that the untiring efforts of Dr Barclay for the welfare of the Borough are recoenised and that he has quickened into life a powerful party of progressive tendencies, the lack of which has been keenly felt for so many years. It also shows that the town has become

of some importance, when a member of the Ministry will travel many miles to attend a function held here, a visit which will have a lasting effect on this, one of the strongest centres of the Government. Much of the infofmation conveyed in the speeches of the Minister, when replying to the Rev. Geo. Barclay’s questions, was of great importance as indicating the intentions of the Education Department—whilethe visit gave opportunity, to put forward a claim for the deviation of the main line and other items

of importance. Sufficient has been done to indicate in no uncertain way that there are men in the town sufficiently alive to its interests to make strong efforts for advancement. And for this purpose it is only necessary to foster and take full advantage of Waimate’s present sources of wealth. To this end the municipality, now a growing power in all lauds, must contribute its mite. The ballot paper for councillors will contain sixteen names, a record, we believe, for Waimate, From these it should not be difficult to select nine good men in whose ha-nds the burgesses can safely leave the guidance of their borough.