Doubts On Cooks Constitution

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30737, 29 April 1965, Page 8

Doubts On Cooks Constitution

(N.Z. Frets Association) WELLINGTON, April 27.

The special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the Cook Islands election, Dr. G. Amachree, said today he felt “there are some parts of the Cook Islands Constitution not fitted to the local situation, but I may be wrong.”

A permanent under-secre-tary in the United Nations Secretariat, he discussed the constitution and the Cook Islands with the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and Government officials today. Dr. Amachree said he had his views about the constitution, which might have been coloured by knowing a little about other constitutions.

There was no perfect constitution. A so-called constitution had to be suitable for the particular people for whom it was designed. The

constitution of one area should not be adopted wholesale for another. Preparing a constitution involved knowledge of the social structure and the background of the area involved. The Cook Islands elections were very orderly. There was a lot of interest and voting was high. One constituency had a 100 per cent poll and the general turn-out was about 90 per cent. This was in spite of election day being very wet. Dr. Amachree said he had been pleasantly surprised, in talking to many people about the election, to find that they knew what they were going to do and why they were going to do it. The residential qualification of three years, set out in the proposed constitution, had been an election issue and he thought Mr Albert Henry. Leader of the Cook Islands Party, had exploited it effectively. The United Nations observers would be reporting towards the end of May, he said. New Zealand would still have responsibility for the

territory under inte ™ al government, Dr. Amachree Sa ’lf’ the constitution was adopted, and after it had been worked for some time, the islanders would then beable to say if they wanted mdepen de what was now being done was a step in the right direction and was teaching the islanders the art of §o ver “' ing themselves. Independence was a matter for the people themselves to decide.

Dr. Amachree said there was “still a lot to do,” and mentioned communications and education.

Asked to comment on the United Nations financial crisis, he said he was optimistic a solution could be found.

“The fact that a committee has been formed and that people are prepared to talk is a healthy sign—although not conclusive,” he said. “I do not think the problem is insoluble,” D r . Amachree said.