N.Z. Charged With Neglect Of Cook Is.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 22

N.Z. Charged With Neglect Of Cook Is.

(N ZP.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, October 28. New Zealand has neglected the development of the Cook Islands and the islanders are not ready for internal self-govern-ment at present, Mr Ronald Syme, a European resident of the islands, has told the United Nations.

Mr Syme, writing from Rarotonga to the Special Committee on Colonialism, said: “I am completely unable to understand how internal self-govern-ment the right to manage one’s own affairs, in plainer language can be achieved under present conditions.” The all-important crops, including citrus fruits »nd tomatoes, were almost entirely controlled by New Zealand firms, Mr Syme said. If members of the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly were to visit newly-independ-ent African countries they might be surprised by what they saw. “But they would certainly realise how very far behind other countries the Cook Islands have “Except for the medical service. which I consider a credit to New Zealand, I do not blame the Cook Islanders for that: I blame the New Zealand administration of the last 62 years and I have said so

to the United Nation* Organisation,” he said. Mr Syme originally wrote a “confidential letter” to the United Nations last April about conditions in the Cook Islands. His latest communication had been necessary, he said, because of the “extraordinary indignation and vehement denial* now being manifested by official circles in the Cook Islands.” He submitted document* and newspaper clippings to support his statements.

“I continue to remain convinced that more must be done to improve the lamentable economic conditions of these islands,” he said. The Cook Islands Legislature had never appealed to the United Nation* for financial aid. Mr Syme queried whether its members had been aware, until recently, that such a loan might possibly be available.

Mr Syme said that hi* only reason for writing to the United Nations had been to present the facts. “Unless the true facts are revealed to the outside world, we cannot expect the world to be prepared to help the

Cook Islands in the difficult year* which lie ahead,” he said. Members of the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly, Mr Syme said, were “afraid of speaking their mind” for fear of “victimisation.” In support of this, he quoted an article in the "Auckland Star."

Mr Syme said: “This fear is more general, I submit, amongst the honourable members (of the Assembly) than they care to admit. Naturally, therefore, they may hesitate to speak their minds in a forthright manner.

“I say they will continue to hesitate as long as any European Resident Commissioner, Official Secretary, and Treasurer continue to dominate ' the Legislative Assembly."