Cook Is seek more aid

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 2

Cook Is seek more aid

-PA Wellington "/The Cook Islands Govern--tnent has asked New Zealand to increase its aid by "50, per cent this year. -X in Wellington to present a 'paper on the Cooks’ econoPy is a delegation led by ■»JWr Vincent Ingram, Minister “-for Economic Development .’’-and Attorney-General. *■" He said the basis of his 3 Government’s paper was -That, contrary to what might ■■. have .been the view of the Zealand Government, -'the basis of the Cook Islands economy had declined "•over the last decade. The decline was continuing; although two bright «■spots were the increase in -'tourism and an increase in " exports. Mr Ingram said the Cooks -"were looking for aid from '-New Zealand of about $9 - million in the coming finan-~ •» jcial year. It was now about " 6.4 million.

The response from the New Zealand Government had been “gorid,” he said. Discussing the controversial constitutional changes his Government is putting through Parliament, Mr Ingram said it was estimated that, no more than 800 Cook Islanders living in New Zealand would be affected by proposals to create an overseas electorate. The New Zealand Government is investigating the effect this might have on the dual citizenship enjoyed by an estimated 20,000 Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. Mr Ingram said that the New Zealand Government had not threatened to withdraw citizenship from people who, under the proposed constitution, would ? be allowed to vote in New Zealand during a Cook Islands election.