COOK ISLANDS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 6 September 1930, Page 16

COOK ISLANDS.

ALLEGED LACK OF POLICY.

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED.

[THB PRESS Special Service.]

WELLINGTON, September 5

"Something is wrong with Now Zealand's island policy," declared Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) when the Estimates of the Cook Islands Administration were under consideration by the House of Representatives this morning.

"Tho majority i>f the Cook Islands have been under our care for over 30 years," said Mr Howard. "The islands are costing the taxpayers *>f New Zealand roughly £30,000 a year. The taxpayers are called upon to pay for the upkeep in various ways of the islands Everyone who has been to the islands and has studied the position knows that these islands should tie self-supporting. There was no debt when the islands were taken over. True, the islands had no medical or educational facilities. We are drifting. We have no island policy. With proper administration the islands could hi; made self-supporting, just as the islands we live on.''

Mr J. S. Flotcher (Ind., Grey Lynn) also considered that there was a lack of policy.

Policy of Government,

"I think our policy, is a pretty decided one, and that is to develop as New Zealand has been doing in regard to the Maoris of this country,'' the Minister for the Cook Islands, Sir Apirana Ngata, said in replying later. "Fortunately, the land question is not so acute there as it is here." Mr Howard: Which makes it easier. "It does make it easier," the Minister agreed. He added that in addition to the provisions in the Estimates, expenses totalling about £IB.OOO were being pnid out in Rarotonga for what ho described as ''the whole paraphernalia of civilisation." "The Rarotongan was not responsible for tbat. It is New Zealand butting in." tho Minister said. A member: To help. Helping the Native. "Yes, to help tho Rarotongan and improve his conditions by pakeha standards," the Minister replied. "But that is what you have to pay for doing it.'' For all ho knew they might not be doing the job very efficiently, as he had never been to the islands and he regretted very much that circumstances had prevented him from visiting them before the opening of tho session, but he intended to take the first opportunity of going in order to invAstijzntfl at first hand Hip work being carried out by the New Zealand Administration.

"I am interested in the problems of the Cook _ Islander from his standpoint," Sir Apirana said. "I cannot see through the eyes of my officers, for they are all nakehas. I want to tfo and see what the Islander is thinking about it all, and what he wants, apart from the very liberal dose of civilisation we are giving him." He thought they could do more' in regard to health services and also seeing that fruit was the mainstay of the native that more attention could be directed to the transport of fruit and the loading of vessels.