YOUTH CLUBS IN COOK ISLANDS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 8

YOUTH CLUBS IN COOK ISLANDS

‘Greater’ Development

Than N.Z.

Young men’s and women’s club activities on Rarotonga have advanced ahead of New Zealand in their own small way, in the development of youth leadership, says “Keeping in Touch.” a monthly magazine of Cook Islands Youth Centre activities. The magazine refers to recent advocacy by the Rev. W. G. Murphy for the establishment in New Zealand of a Department of Youth Guidance and the formation of four youth centres in Mount Roskill, Auckland, as a lead to the rest of New Zealand in the training of youth leaders. “During his time as head of the London Missionary Society on Rarotonga, Mr Murphy was always interested in the problems of youth,” says the magaaine. “The scheme he is suggesting for New Zealand is one which the Cook Islands Social Development Department has already begun on a small scale on Rarotonga.

“We, too, feel the lack of youth leadership, but our centres are already proving that the young people can, given the opportunity, produce leaders capable of running their own affairs and of leading their people towards a higher standard of living in every way ” The key to the development of the work in the outer islands, suggests the magazine, is a properly-organised radio station, broadcasting nightly programmes specially prepared to supplement youth clubs’ own activities.