THE COOK ISLANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 5

THE COOK ISLANDS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Host people here retain very pleasant memories of the Governor-Gen-eral's recent visit, and for that reason there is a good deal of surprise that a report so manifestly untrue as that which appeared in your columns of July 3 should have been published. Local politics have always been more or less acrimonious. For this there are two principal causes: the first is trade jealousy, and the second is the effort of some of the European planters to get on the Native Council. The present trad bitterness arises from a feeling amongst the natives that the traders have been making more than a legitimate profit on their produce—that, in snort, they have not received fair prices for their fruit. The natives approached the Commissioner to help them to export their fruit direct to New Zealand, which he did. A strong Native Growers' Co-operative Association has been formed, which has so far obtained excellent results by this new departure. This hits the traders in two ways: They lose the profits on shipments, and they no longer handle the money for the sales of produce, from which they were, accustomed to repay themselves for credit extended to the natives. It is easy therefore to understand the dissatisfaction of the traders. But the administration in helping the natives in this way is only doing what has heen done in many other parts of the Empire, and particularly in New Zealand. The second cause of local strife, the resentment amongst some of the European settlers because they are not given representation on tlie Native Council, is not a reasonable one. European representatives, even in small numbers, would soon dominate the Council, and this would interfere with the policy of the New Zealand Government, which, rightly or wrongly, is to maintain these islands in such a manner that tho Polynesian race may be preserved from extinction. Well then, thig policy of the Government being opposed to the interests of a section of the Enropean community, it is evident that any administrator who conscientiously enrries it out must come into conflict , with the section whose interests are affected; and the present Commissioner,' who takes a keen interest in the welfare of the natives, and who has done a great deal to develop the Islands, is no excepI tion. He has however, performed what i must be an unpleasant duty with the greatest good temper, and has not allowed himself to be influenced by the bitterness with which he is surrounded. The traders also, I believe, wish to conduct their side of the controversy without unpleasantness. Any ill-feeling there

is lias been introduced by a few irresponsible individuals, like the correspond ent whoeo report you have published, who are by nuture cantankerous. —I am. etc., " E. MOOHE.

(To the Eilitor.) .Sir, —The report of a meeting at Rarotonga with the Governor-General in your papor of July 2, 1919, says that I, lobo (Jobu), -with other natives expressed surprise at Mr. Browne saying that the Ariki'e ftavc agreed to white representation on the Council. The traders already have our people too much in their hands. We do not think it would be good for uh for them to have control of our local government as well. We know the half dozen white planters very well, who are trying to get control of tho affaire of the Inland. We have no confidence whatever in them. We will always oppose their admission to the Island Council, or getting anj' control of the hospital or schools. At the meeting our sympathies were with the Administration, and had we understood what was taking place at that meeting —that is that what these rude Europeans were doing, we and the returned soldiers would have taught them better manners. We thought the roaring noise come made was a European custom of showing pleasure, it was only afterwards we learned what it meant, and therefore we were very much annoyed. We. know what the ilinister and the Commissioner have done for us, and we arc content.r-I am, etc. JOBU TUMU, Rangatira. "Resident" also writes in support of the Administration.