COOK ISLANDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 194, 16 August 1911, Page 9

COOK ISLANDERS.

A REPORT AND SCME COMMENT. I (P.j- Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) I WELLINGTON, Tuesday. I The presentation by the Native Affairs Cnnmittoe of their report upon a petition from certain Cook Inland residents rnrar.ling the health of the natives of I ho group. was responsible for some talk and incidental comment in the House j tills afternoon. Mr. James .Mien declared that the [ country was not doing its duty towards these Islands. He contended that some public health officer should go down, not r.nly to llaratonga, but also to the outlying Hands. "I Ihink it would shock any man of sensibilities who visited , Manihiki." exclaimed Mr. Allen, who further expressed the opinion that the I Mini-tor in charge was taking his duties I too Ushtly concerning the public health ! of these Islands.

Mr. Jennings pointed out that the Government had a responsible man at the islands. Mr. Te Rangihiroa snid that the tradition of a chief health officer for Karatone;a wns a fuble. There was necessity for an assistant at Nine alone with its 4000 people. The outlying islands were without a medical officer at all, and certainlv the present doctor could not be erpeeted to cover so wide an area. As for the diHo-.ises there, thev were nearly all confined to tropical diseases.

Mr. Glover declared that the whole business hinged on a quarrel between two doctors an! a discharged constable. He considered that if the House waitpd until the report came down the whole position would be satisfactorily explained.

Air. James Carroll said tbat Br. Percival had now been appointed, and appeared to be jiving every satisfaction. They had also arranged for another doctor to make a circuit of the different islands. Tt was a difficult matter to meet the full requirements. but the ftovornmont bad provided for Nine in the shape of a medical officer for that island alone. Everything bad been done that was possible under the circumstances in the appointment of three doctors. The report of the Chief Justice would probably be laid on the tal-le the following day or the day after.. Mr. Jenninrrs said the Dominion has assumed a responsibilitv in connection with these islands, and it was their duty as members of Parliament to see that it was carried out.

On the recommendation of the committee the matter was referred to the Government for inquiry.