COOK ISLANDERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 8

COOK ISLANDERS

SATISFIED WITH REPRESENTATION

That the Cook Islanders have no desire for direct representation in the New

Zealand Parliament, was made clear by the Minister in Charge of the Department (Hon. Sir Maui Pomare) in the House of Representatives yesterday. The point had been raised by the Leader of Hie Opposition (Mr.. 11. E. Holland), who asked the Minister whether the time had not arrived when the Islanders should have such representation. The Prime Minister (Kt. Bon. «J. G.. Coates) : Do they want it? ~The Leader of the Opposition said the question had been discussed, when the Parliamentary Committee visited the group in 1920. The Islanders weie a. fine type of people, and the presence of a representative of them in the House would enable the Native view to be expressed when legislation affecting the Islands was under consideration.. Keplyingt the Minister stiid tluit the Island ’councils had been asked whether they wanted special representation in the New Zealand Parliament, and every one had turned the proposition down. The councils had expressed themselves as being quite satisfied with tlie manner in which their interests were watched by himself.