COOK ISLAND GOVERNMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 251, 22 October 1919, Page 11

COOK ISLAND GOVERNMENT.

PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION | PROGRAMME. I L—GI6LATIVE REFORM DEMANDED. '. The Cook Island Progressive Association has followed up its demand for an investigation into the alleged failure of the Administration by framing a programme of reform considered essential if the islands arc to he reasonably de- \ eloped. A lirst demand is for a council on a more democratic basis than that at present, consisting of the Commissioner and nominated arikis or native chiefs. The association suggests that the Council should consist of (ll the Resident Commissioner as president, (2) the live arikis as ex-oflicio members ns at present, (3) six native elective members, ii) European members in proportion to their numbers. The udded powers of this Council would include control of locally-raised revenue. A considerable amount of native support is claimed for the institution of a more democratic Council, commencing with a resolution in favour of an elective European member passed by the Council itself as far back as 1909. The manifesto goes on to recall the recent occasion when the Council again came to a decision on this matter at a private meeting held without the president, when they drafted a resolution embodying their desires for an increased number of elective native members and two European members. These proposals were afterwards defeated by the Com-m's-ioner, who exercised "considerable pressure. Ordinances, says the Association, should be published in the Cook Island Gazette in both languages. At present they a*e .merely published in English in the New Zealand Gazette, which is not procurable locally, and in any case, would not be understood by the natives. The Resident Commissioner should be chosen on his merits and should have had long previous experience in dealing with native races in the tropics. Legal attainments alone are not a sufficient qualification for the position of Resident Commissioner. On the economic side, the administration will have to take an intimate -interest in the development of island industries and take the requisite steps to put them on a sound foundation. The total trade of the group ha* fallen from £_o,_l in the year ending March 31st, 1!T],"1, to £I_,'Wo for the year ending Mwrch 31st, '919, a decrease of £37,85 L This decrease is the more serious when the greatly enhanced cost of goods is taken into account, for only by so dohif can it be properly realised to what extent the income of the people has deteriorated during the period under review. In order to maintain the 1913 standard of living, the trade figure; for 1019 should not bo less than £500.000. It should also bo noted that during the same period New Zealand's share of the total trade has decreased by £3C,556, whilst America's share has increased by £25._13. A demand is made for an investigation and introduction of the highly specialised methods of marketing the \Vest Indian banana and the Florida orange. For quantity and value at the present time, the only other product is copra, the export of which amounted to about £30,000 last year, 'but this is a crop that will increase as time goes on and plantations come into 'bearing. The present methods of dealing with this product ar? erratic and disastrous, and do not produce an article of uniform quality such as is desirable for export if the best results are to be obtained. To remedy these draivibacks atfid to bring the best results to the producers, it is suggested that a drying outfit and storage shed be erected by the 'Government and the copra dealt with in the same manner as is done in American Samoa where the copra is stored until a sufficient quantity has avcunimulated and is then sold by tender. It is suggested that a special fruit v<wsel should be put on the Cook Island run, either by the New Zealand Government, or by arrangement with the shipping company. In addition to this, adequate space on the mail steamers should be reserved for the Cook Islands under tlie next mail contract, both on the outward ami inwaJd voyages.. The Crown Lands in the centre of Rarotonga should he opened up, surveyed into suitable blocks and leased to settlers, either native or European, and certain suitable areas ought to be set anide for the planting of timber trees with a view of supplying the future requirements of the Islands in the matter of fruit cases. Advances to settlers for development of their leases, a more vigorous campaign ajjainst rats which are peculiarly destructive in these islands, and the institution and enforcement of a better sanitary system are demanded. In connection with the latter the increased danger of yellow fever from Central! America since the opening of the Canal is mentioned -and the need of employing all modern methods for the destruction of the mosquito, which is the carrier of this scourge