Cook Islanders still unsure of election

Press, 28 March 1983, Page 8

Cook Islanders still unsure of election

NZPA political reporter

Rarotonga

Cook Islanders were still unsure on Friday whether they will have a General Election on Wednesday. The outcome of a Court of Appeal hearing which challenges a constitutional amendment did not arrive in Rarotonga on a flight from Auckland on Saturday as was expected. The next and last scheduled flight on which the judgment could travel before the election is this evening.

There are predictions that the Court’s decision may not

be known until April 19, when the Chief Justice, Sir Gavin Donne, is scheduled to return to the Cooks for land cases. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Geoffrey Henry, brought the constitutional case against the AttorneyGeneral, Mr Vincent Ingram. If Mr Henry wins, the constitution will have to be rewritten and that would mean a postponed election if the result comes before Wednesday. Mr Henry seeks a declaration on whether the amendment is a “valid and effective enactment of the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands.”

The amendment created the overseas constituency in New Zealand and divided the mulitple constituencies on Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, and Mangaia. The Solicitor-General and the Crown Law Office opposed the challenge by Mr Henry. The case was heard by Mr Justice Dillon, a Cook Islands judge, Mr Justice Coates, a retired Auckland District Court Judge, and Mr Justice Richardson, of the New Zealand Court of Appeal. While the uncertainty about the election date continues, election campaigning is low key, concentrating on village meetings.