COOK ISLANDS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 11 August 1932, Page 6

COOK ISLANDS.

MINISTER MAKES VISIT. DEPARTURE KEPT SECRET. [THE PRESS Special Ssrrice.] WELLINGTON, August 10. Close silence has been, observed concerning the arrangements for the Minister for Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata, to visit the Cook Islands before the opening of the next session of Parliament. The 'Minister left for Earotonga by the steamer Monowai on Tuesday with his:private secretary, Mr Balneavis, and although they will be away for about a fortnight on official business, no statement was made before their departure, and their names did not appear in the Monowai's passenger list, which was published after her departure from Wellington. It is unprecedented for a Minister of the Crown to leave the country under such secrecy. Outside Cabinet circles it was not known that Sir Apirana Ngata intended to go to the Cook Islands until after he had left Wellington, and it has come as a complete surprise to many in Parliament House to hear that the Minister has gone away. It is stated that right up to his departure the Minister was in communication with Government Departments, but no hint of his trip was given. Accompanying Sir Apirana Ngata was Lady Ngata, to whom he was married several months ago. She is his second wife. Also in the party was Sir Apirana's daughter, Mrs Goldsmith, and her husband, as well as the secretary to the Cook Islands Department, Mr S. J. Smith. No mention of the names of any of the party was made in the published passenger list. Prime Minister's Statement. When questioned about Sir Apirana Ngata's trip this evening, the Prime Minister said the question had been discussed in Cabinet. Since his appointment to Cabinet, when he took over the administration of tho Cook Islands portfolio, Sir Apirana had not had a chance to visit the group, and it was considered that the present time was opportune for him" to go there for the purposo of acquainting himself with conditions in tho Islands and attending to certain Departmental questions which had to be dealt with. The Prime Minister said Sir Apirana would be back in Now Zealand within about a fortnight, the trip being made at present in order to enable him to return before the opening of the session. There were various questions affecting the economic conditions in the group with which he would have to deal, and he had attempted to make the trip for some time. However, the recent emergency session had kept him in New Zealand, and it was not until the present time that he had been able to get away.