The Press WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1974. Independence for the Cook Islands ?

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33588, 17 July 1974, Page 12

The Press WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1974. Independence for the Cook Islands ?

The Premier of the Cook Islands (Sir Albert Henry) has shown a new spirit of independence since promising deposits of manganese were found among the islands of the archipelago. It would be ungracious not to wish him and his people well if he carries out his intention to seek full independence from New Zealand. He is quite entitled to do so, provided that he can find the two-thirds majority necessary to revise the Constitution. Independence would free Sir Albert Henry’s Government from the few remaining restraints on how it spends the grant from New Zealand each year which allows it to balance its Budget The way would be open for increasing nepotism and inefficiency in the administration, matters which have already caused some concern in New Zealand and among Sir Albert Henry’s political opponents on the 15 islands. But at least New Zealand would be freed from any slur that it continues to have “ colonialist ” pretensions. Sir Albert Henry, no doubt, would hope to negotiate with New Zealand an arrangement similar to that between this country and Western Samoa, to which substantial aid and assistance continue to be given without the constraint of any formal political tie. Western Samoa has 1140 square miles ; of territory and a population of 150,000 people; it is a rather more credible “ State ” than the Cook Islands, which have 93 square miles and 22,000 people. New Zealand could hardly refuse to continue its help, at least until some revenue from the manganese begins to roll in. Later, New Zealand would be able to review the scale of its assistance in the light of economic progress in the archipelago. At present the grant from New Zealand to the islands amounts to about $lOO for every inhabitant. About 10,000 Cook Islanders live in New Zealand imposing an appreciable burden on some services here, especially in Auckland, and the money they remit home is an important source of income to the islands. When the Cook Islanders reflect on these benefits they might decide that the certain financial benefits of a continuing association with New Zealand outweigh the uncertain satisfaction of full political autonomy. They must have noted that the New Zealand Government has already given notice that restraints will be imposed on immigration. This thought might be a further encouragement to self-sufficiency.