Cook Islands

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27463, 24 September 1954, Page 12

Cook Islands

The New Zealand mission headed by the Minister of Island Territories (Mr Webb) went to the Cook Islands recently chiefly to deal with dis-

satisfaction in the islands that was brought to a head when another “ mission ” from New Zealand visited the islands early this year. The dispatch of two income tax inspectors on what was subsequently explained to be “merely a routine

“examination of the kind continu- “ ously made in New Zealand ” stirred up the people and leaders of the Cook Islands. Cook Island councillors said they were prepared to boycott meetings of the council and refuse their share in the administration unless the New Zealand Government agreed to set

up a Royal Commission to investigate the islands’ affairs and economics. Later, some extreme opinion demanded immediate representation of the Cook Islands in the New Zealand Parliament, and presented a petition praying for such

very wisely determined to deal with this dissatisfaction promptly; a strong mission headed by the Minister of Island Territories was dispatched to study Cook Island problems. The Minister has now reported on the visit, and his report leaves no room to doubt that the mission was necessary. It gives reason to believe that the mission did much good, both in the Cook Islands and among New Zealanders concerned with the administration of Cook Island- affairs. The report dismisses the claim for immediate representation of the Cook Islands in the New Zealand Parliament; the Minister has no difficulty in showing that opinion making the claim does not reflect that of the island people, ;and that representation is not in

fact wanted by Cook Islanders in general For What it may mean, it may be noted that the report regards “ ultimate representation of the Cook “ Islands in the New Zealand Parliament as by no means a remote possibility However, the report is much clearer and more positive where it deals with the natives’ right to share in the administration of their islands. It is recommended that official (that is, nominated) representation on the Cook Islands Legislative Council should be curtailed; the council should be given greater power and responsibility; standing committees of the council dealing with a wide variety of administrative functions should be set up; individual island councils • should be given opportunities to establish an effective system of local government. The report advocates that more use should be made of natives in the administration of the islands, and in judicial positions. These are such commonplace proposals that one reading them must reflect how fortunate New Zealand is to have dependent territories where no nationalistic strivings are apparent, and where there is no pressure to hand over self-governing powers to people ill-fitted to exercise them. But in the world of today, these favourable conditions are unlikely to last; the rumblings that were heard early this year may recur in more violent form unless the island people are given firm evidence that New Zealand really intends to encourage their political development. There is everything to be said for advancing the political development of dependent peoples gradually and soundly; but there is abundant evidence from elsewhere that the pace must not be too leisured, or one set merely to suit the convenience of the guardian power. If the mission has returned convinced that the pace of political development of the people of the Cook Islands must be accelerated, then its work will be beneficial both to the people of the Cook Islands and to New Zealand and its good name as a guardian of dependent peoples.