THE COOK ISLAND NATIVES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13622, 5 January 1910, Page 7

THE COOK ISLAND NATIVES.

COMPLAINT OF INDENTURED LABOURERS. UNABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. AN APPEAL TO THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT. We have received a communication from Mr B. W. Black, an ex-New Zealandor, who is now resident on Fanning Island, in the Pacific Ocean, calling attention to the unfortunate positioii in which some natives of one of New Zealand's dependencies are placed. Mr Black was for some years in the service of tne New Zealand Telegraph Department, and was stationed at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Wakapuaka. Under c'ate of December Bth he writes as follows:—"I desire to bring under your notice an injustice under which the natives of Manihiki, who are now resident in Fanning Island, are suffering. Manihiki is an island of the Cook group, and is, therefore, under New Zealand's jurisdiction. The Manihiki natives on Fanning Island' were brought here as indentured labourers about nine years ago by Mr Greig, tho then owner of Fanning Island. Their indenture provided that, at the end of the term of their indenture they were to be returned to their native homes in Manihiki. However, when the indentures had expired, the Mnnihikis were content remain at Fanning, believing that when they actually did wish to leave tho island they would be returned to Mihikihi.

"Later on the island became involved in litigation, the result of which was the sale of the island, about two years ago, to Father Rougier, a French Roman Catholic priest. Now a difficulty has arisen which, if left unsettled, practically condemns the Manihikis to remain on Fanning Island for the term of their natural lives. Some little time ago these natives approached Father Rougier, with the request that they should be returned' to Manihiki, according to their original agreement with the former owner of the island. Father Rougier replied that he knew nothing about the agreement, and did not consider himself bound by a contract made by the former owner, and which hod expired l some years before he took possession of the island.

"Whether Father Rougier is right in repudiating any obli£ation to return the6o poor natives to their Island homes, or whether he is wrong, I cannot say; but one thing-is certain, and that is, that the unfortunate Manihikis have been placed in a very awkward position through no fault of their own. It is certainly very hard on them, after having worked here for so long, to find that they cannot obtain the free passages which they have all along looked upon as their richt. There can be no doubt that, had Mr Greig lived and retained possession of Fanning Island, he would bar© been bound to return the Manihikis within a reasonable time after their request for return. -The [question, therefore, presents itself: 'Did not Father Rougier, in purchasing the Fanning Island Esfate, take over with it all contracts and responsibilities?' Tf he did, then be is responsible for the return of the Manihikis. If he did not take over those responsibilities, then I think the New Zealand Government should step in and look after these stranded islanders. The Gilbert Islanders here are returned to their homes every three years, if they so wish. This is at the employers' cost. But the Gilbert Islanders are under the jurisdiction of tho High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. The High Commissioner lias a representative here in the person of the cahle superintendent, but the poor Manihikis, being under New Zealand's jurisdiction, have no local authority to whom they may appeal. "It seems rather absurd that there should be a law compelling employers of Gilbert Island labourers to return them to their homes at Btated intervals, whereas there is apparently no similar law for the benefit of the Manihiki natives. Both are British subjects although they are under different jurisdictions. At all events, the New Zealand Government might, if it became aware of tho above-mentioned facts, make some investigation into the plight of the Manihiki people on Fannine Island.

"New Zealand is world-famed for the humane manner 'n which she has cared for her native citizens, and tho Manihiki natives are among her native citizens. In appearance, customs, and language, they are very like the Maoris. All of them here are healthy people, capable of and willing to work'so that in tho event of their being returned to Manihiki they would not become a chars© on the "Island. There are about a dozen adults and fifteen or sixteen children, but I do not know whether all would want to leave. The majority would _>o to-morrow if they had the opportunity."