Minister Defends Cook Islands Administration

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28479, 8 January 1958, Page 13

Minister Defends Cook Islands Administration

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 7. The Minister of Island Territories <Mr J. Mathison) said that in the last few years tlje best advice available on the economic, social, health, and conetitutional problems of the Cook Islands had been sought, and many reforms were well under w ay. The Minister was commenting on a charge by the ‘‘Manchester Guardian” that New Zealand had failed to govern well in its dependencies. The newspaper referred to ‘‘indignation” in the New Zealand press after the release of a recent medical report on conditions at Aitutaki, one of the Cook Islands. “New Zealand always has had, she has now. and I hope she always will have, a record second to none in the welfare and progress of dependent peoples,” l said Mr Mathison today. “The Manchester Guardian” is reported to have expressed surprise that our record as a colonial administrator should be low, and to have pointed out that failure by New Zealand to govern well in her dependencies would reflect not only on her but on some of her friends. “Record Extremely High" “In answer to this,” said Mr Mathison, “I am bound to say that in international forums like the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations and the South pacific Commission the record of New Zealand in the administration of her dependent territories stands extremely high and she has by no means let down ‘her friends.’ ”

Commenting on the newspaper’s remark that “good government is not obtainable on the cheap,” Mr Mathison said that New Zealand last year made a grant of £640,915 to the Cook Islands and Niue treasuries, which was £3O a head.

The Minister said that a comprehensive Government-financed housing scheme had been instituted in the Cook Islands, and it was proposed to demolish most of the sub-standard housing. The infant and maternity services had also been improved. In the interests of better nutrition as well as greater exports the Cook Islands Department of Agriculture had been strengthened, and a land-use survey was in progress.

After the setting-up of a new Department of Social Development. increasing numbers of cooperative ventures, youth centres, and other forms of community development had been established.

At the last meeting before Christmas the Cabinet had approved the immediate purchase of a property on Aitutaki for the establishment of a leprosy centre. The existing property and the buildings to be erected would cost

several thousand pounds. Accommodation was already available tor all the infectious cases on the island. Mr Mathison said that the Government realised that any endeavours to improve conditions in the Cook Islands would be of no avail unless there was active participation by the people themselves. It was for this reason that Parliament last year, after a constitutional survey of the Cook Islands, passed an amendment to the Cook Islands Act. The new legislation made provision for a new and enlarged Legislative Assembly with an elected majority and a greatly increased authority. Other - Provisions The further development of island councils, the establishment of an Executive Council to assist the Resident Commissioner, village councils and committees with limited judicial authority, and the appointment of native Justices of the Peace were also provided for. The legislation involved an over-all revision of the constitution, and was an important step forward in the development of the Cook Islands. “May I re-emphasise that New Zealand will continue to make every improvement it is possible to provide, while maintaining the language, the culture, and traditions of the people, through increased educational facilities and the most effective use of the resources of the islands,” Mr Mathison added.