Sir Albert: “I will be dictator”

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33712, 9 December 1974, Page 2

Sir Albert: “I will be dictator”

I By

TREVOR HENRY.

. N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

RAROTONGA, December 8.

The Cook Islands Premier (Sir Albert Henry) today lashed out at the New Zealand news media, supporters of the Opposition Democratic Party, and “beachcombers.” He also said that he would be a dictator.

Sir Albert accused the Democratic Party of underhand tactics in the recent General Election campaign, and indicated that he would shortly purge the Public Service of Opposition activists.

He directed his remarks at expatriates working in the islands, as well as at local employees. The Premier was speaking at an official farewell at Rarotonga Airport before he flew to New Zealand. He arrived in Auckland tonight for a rest, and will later fly to Wellington for talks with the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling).

It was Sir Albert’s first public comment since before the election. He refused repeated requests for interviews by New Zealand journalists in Rarotonga.

Today, Sir Albert told the gathering: “I have refused to meet newspapers because I have no faith in them. All New Zealand newspapers and broadcasting stations have already soiled my name.” They had called him a Communist and a dictator, although in sc.ne cases a benevolent one.

He then added: "I am going to be a dictator.” He advised all Government employees to read page 28 of the Cook Islands Party manifesto, which said the Public Service had no place for supporters of a party working to overthrow the Government.

“Read it — and that goes for expatriates as well as local employees — and digest it well,” he said. "When I come back you will know what that really means.” He then spoke of “beachcombers,” who he said come to the Cook Islands with nothing and had been given wives and money. “They have the damned cheek to turn round and say who should rule this island,” he said. “They should just sit there and think themselves lucky for what they have got, and not usurp the Government. I am speaking now not as the Albert Henry you knew. This is a different Albert Henry.” Corruption alleged When he returned he would stop the corruption of the Democratic Party, he said. Sir Albert, who is accompanied by his personal physician, Dr J. Williams, and a police bodyguard, finished his speech saying that even if he

should die his words would live on as an inspiration. Earlier, he said the election campaign had shown what corruption really meant. He alleged the Opposition had influenced voters through “treating.” “We have cases that will be coming before the courts,” he said. “Whether they succeed or not, they cannot erase the stink that these cases were brought to court for. Sir Albert said that when he arrived in New Zealand he would be discussing with his lawyers some of the irregularities.

Sir Albert said he was “bitter that such corruption had entered into the hearts of a Christian country.” The Leader of the Opposition (Dr T. Davis) said later that Sir Albert would find it hard to prove corruption allegations against the Democratic Party, and partiularly against himself. Sir Albert was correct in describing himself as a dictator, said Dr Davis. "There are laws to protect civil servants and we will use them to the fullest to protect our people,” he added. Sir Albert said he was going to Wellington to establish “true status” of the Cook Islands in accordance with the Constitution—the status of independence in free association with New Zealand.

A lot of “eyewash” had been talked about full independence. He had been asked to meet Mr Rowling and discuss the reorganisation of the channels of communication between Wellington and Rarotonga, said Sir Albert. These changed from the Island Affairs Division to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April I.