BACK FROM THE ISLANDS.'

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 152, 27 June 1914, Page 9

BACK FROM THE ISLANDS.'

INTERVIEW WITH BR POMARE PROBLEMS OF THE COOK GROUP. On his return from his official visit to the Cook Islands this morning, the Minister-in-Charge of the Island Dependency (Dr. Pomare) informed a "Star" interviewer that he had been very favourably impressed by what he had seen during the past few weeks. Evidently the Minister had been hospitably received, for while he was talking to the pressman his attendants were superintending the removal from the Government steamer Tutanekai of a rare collection of mementoes of the tour. There was a big wooden kava bowl presented to the. Minister by the New Zealand residents of Tonga during a call at that port for coaling purposes. Sundry bundles of sugar cane, some fathom beans, several samples of tapa (native cloth beaten out of bark) ,and many etceteras were also of the collection, not to mention some choice samples of

Island fruits. '■I found that the islands arc increasing in prosperity," said the Minister, "and I feel convinced that when the land is divided into small holdings that the islands will be an additionally valuable dependency." "With regard to the fruit industry, Dr. Pomarc said that the experimental station which he had established was serving a good purpose. The object of this was to ascertain what fruits could be cultivated to most advantage, and also to instruct the natives in the best methods of production and packing. In fact, the station was doing for the islands what the Government, experimental farms were doing for New Zealand. "The health of the natives is satisfactory." said the Minister, ''and Dr. Baldwin is doing good work maong them. Like all other communities where doctors are scarce, the residents are asking for more." In reply to a question. Dr. Pomarc said that there was really not sufficient inducement for more, medical I men to go to the islands without some

system of subsidies. He referred to his ! visit to tho Cook Group about eight ! years ago. and said that the health prob- ; leni had not changed much since then, j In all the islands, the Minister said, I the natives were anxious for schooling facilities, nnd he proposed (subject, to Parliamentary sanction) that four new schools should be opened. A flourishing school was in existence at Niue. and tho success which the European teachers had achieved Ihcre was encouraging for the j success of an extended educational movement. He (the Minister) proposed to j recruit teachers from Now Zealand, and also to have intelligent natives coached into the work. He wjis pleased to note that the islanders were anxious to have their children taught Kuglish. The manufacture of what is known as "•bush beer" in the islands formed the subject, of a query, to which Dr. Pomare replied tluit the state of affairs wast no | worse than it had ever been. ''The churches have been there for SO years," i he added, "and they have been unable to completely eradicate it. Now they ask mc to do so. That, however, would require a recasting of Government regulations. What the natives were asking. Dr. Pomare added, was that the prohibition against the use of intoxicating liquor imposed upon them should also be applied to the white residents. And," added the Minister, ''that seems to mc to be only fair." One. other matter was referred' to Ivy Dr. Pomarc. It ivas the outcry of rcftidenbs or. outlying islands for greater transport facilities. Hut that was a matter which must, continue to be orib-

ject to the growth nf trade. Still the tim-c undoubtedly wa»* coining when the volume of'trade 'would' justify btrttet intcr-isiand carrying sexvicru, and whet: that came about X-tiw Zealand would have reason to prize her island pot-tscs-sions. Thy Minister added that the vJ6;t ol I-Ijo Excellency the Governor had delighted tiie islanders, and the presence of an escorting warship had helped tc impress th>erß with the important prei-tigo of the Dominion and the Empire.