Cooks tours evidence

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 6

Cooks tours evidence

PA Auckland The Cook Islands Premier (Sir Albert Henry) paid for $5730 worth of air tickets in cash the same day the same amount had been advanced to him by his Philatelic Bureau, it was said bn Saturday, in the Cook Islands High Court. The Court is hearing petitions alleging bribery and corruption in the Cook Islands General Election. Other evidence was given that Government servants worked a printing machine at the house of the Minister of Education (Mr Tupui Ariki Henry) during working hours. It was also said that Government employees helped collate and staple the Cook Islands Partv manifesto during office hours. The C LP. had not been charged for the work. Further evidence was advanced that Mr Hugh Henry, Director of Works and Secretary of Supportive Services, had visited New Zealand for private reasons, but had been on full pay. During the sitting on Saturday, Mr Justice Donne, Chief Justice of the Cook Island, said he would rule on Tuesday (New Zealand time) about whether to release information on the effect of the voters flown from New Zealand by the C.I.P. A very big bill is mounting as the sitting goes into its second week. The cost to the Cook Islands Government is now getting towards $40,000, and the cost of the prosecution and defence may be double that, or more. j It is now clear that the hearing is likely to continue for most of this week, if not all of it. His Honour is unlikely to give a decision for three or four weeks and will almost certainly travel to New Zealand to study legal libraries! before giving his answer on whether a new Government should take power. A police investigation into misuse of public funds arising from evidence given at the hearing, is continuing.