FIGHTING AGAINST ODDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 4

FIGHTING AGAINST ODDS.

The letters which we publish this morning from Dn. Dawson and Mr. 11. Hosking, who have been endeavouring to secure an open and impartial inquiry into the administration of the Cook Islands, servo to show the difficulties which these gentlemen arc confronted with in seeking to bring about needed reforms.' The correspondence will. also assist to further convince the public of the injustice which has been done those laying the charges—especially Dr. Dawson—by Sir Robert Stout in his report, based on en partc evidence obtained in secret. At the time the report was made public we pointed out some of its numerous inaccuracies ; ■ the extraordinary nature of certain of the conclusions arrived at; the surprising manner in which proved charges—proved even in face of the fact' thai those who made them refused to tender evidence before a secret inquiry—had been glozed over. But even then we did not cover ■half the ground. We, however, exposed sufficient to show the yaluelessness of the report so far as it related to the specific charges made, and sufficient also to prove the injustice that had been done by inference and innuendo to Dn. Dawson and the others acting with him. To-day is the earliest opportunity those at the Cook Islands have had of replying here to the findings and comments in Sir Kobert Stout's report. Weeks must necessarily elapse . before the report could reach the Islands, and those so inclined make reply to it here. At the Islands, where the facts are well known, the report, we are told,'has been received with disgust. Its inaccuracies must have been too obvious, and the erroneous conclusions drawn from the evidence collected in secret too transparent, to escape speedy detection there. The residents of Rarotonga must have boon filled with amazement that Sir Robert Stout could have presented such a report on such evidence. Our readers can read for themselves the further exposures made by Dr. Dawson and Mr. Hosking. Sir Robert Stout, for instance, in_ his report said:

Tho other charge about tho hospital is that not sufficient attention has been paid to the drainage. Dr. Perceval informs mo that this is entirely incorrect. He saj'3 —as I saw—that there is no drainage going from tho hospital save from tho bath, and that is'carried by a pipe into tho looso coral soil, and passes away and leaves nothing behind. ... Dr. Perceval says the drainage,is peifect.

Both De. Datvson and Me. Hoskinq point out that the drainage has only been carried out since De. Perceval's arrival at tho Islandsweeks after the charges were made and many months after the hospital was gazetted as open to receive patients. Sir Kodeet Stout's' report makes it appear that the charge as to the drainage was unfounded, whereas the fact is that the drainage work was only carried but—after months of delay— after the charges were published. Why did not Sir Roueet Stout state in his roport that the drainage had been attended to since the charges were made i Would it not have been only a fair and reasonable thing to do so, instead of making it appear that the charges wero unfounded? Why, if he was really anxious to rjrobo_ these matters, did he not investigate them fully and express his views on the fact that for months after the hospital was gazetted as open no proper drainage connection was made? The public, we think, understand by this time what sort of investigation Sin HoEEET Stout conducted, and they no doubt appreciate the odds which Dn. DawsoN and his friends have arrayed against them in their fight to secure that proper administration of the affairs of the Cook Islands which the residents are entitled to. Some good has already resulted from the exposures made, but much more remains to bo done. If members of Parliament would only take the trouble to fully acquaint themselves with the facts of the situation they would not hesitate for ono moment in demanding that some more suitable person should be appointed to carry out the very responsible duties entrusted to the Resident Commissioner at the Islands.