COOK ISLANDS ADMINISTRATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 949, 17 October 1910, Page 7

COOK ISLANDS ADMINISTRATION.

1 NATIVE MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM. 1 attention of the Hon., J. Carroll ;for.' Native; Affairs), was drawn }®;.4' s "9 u j^' n g disclosures;; in: regard . 'Administration, whichappeared in The ' Dominion on . Saturday- Ho stated-(in reply) that '■ w °uld not express .any -opinion with \ . to. the: complaints in the mean-.time.-.To. his mind,'. the v matters; com- , ~: m ented.upon were not so serious as was •.indicated. Generally,- there had been .a' neat improvement an the affairs.of the Cook islands. The trade,, business, and '■/' nnance .of the Island government were . increasing, aiid were oil a-sounder foot- ; rag than had. previously lieen tho case. . ihe f groat question in regard to' the ' Islands.was, to his mind, that of health. He had .decided some time back, to cope •" .withit by, making . further -medical ap- : poillfcments. He- was satisfied that an- ■ other doctor would have to. be appointed : .apart -fr°mi-the.- ; o'ne .already ; there to .visit and -attend the -residents of the . outer, islands.. It- will be recalled that ... when the",estimates. in ;respect to' the Islands were before the House, Mr. Carroll stated;--in reply to Mr. Allen, ; that It; was also -intended to , make the appointment of • a third doctor for ; ; Niue Island, which , was under- a sep;i arate Administration,. owing : to its dis- . ttanco from the centre of the Cook Island Government. At tlie. same time, ■ Mr.: 'Carroir.iintimated .that' he : might :. ask Parliament, for a 'little .assistance by way of a grant.;; To a Dominion re--porter, on Saturday,. > Mr.. Carroll said . further- that ho bad,carefully noted the complaints, and when he -received the official reports he would be in a position to .adjust- any matter's which re-, , quired to .be remedied.. '.-He added that he hoped to be able to visit the Cook . Islands himself- 'during: the recess:.