COOK ISLANDS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 19, 24 January 1929, Page 13

COOK ISLANDS

SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS

STATEMENT BY RESIDENT

COMMISSIONER

Judgo Ayson, Eesideut Commission or of the Cook Islands, who is on a short visit to New Zealand, interviewed by a "Post" reporter to-day, gavo some interesting information in regard to the Cook Group, including present trade conditions, health matters, and tho educational facilities now available.

"Trade conditions," said Judge Ayson, "were fairly well maintained during the past year in spite of the low price ruling for copra, and the fact that fruit prices in New Zealand were disappointing. Exports for tho year ended 31st December, 1928, . were £133,051, and imports £117,639. Special attention is being given to the packing and grading of fruit for export, in orcler that the islands can meet the competition of Fiji, Australia, and California. Efforts are being made to promote secondary industries in such commodities as ginger, turmeric, spices, chillies, etc. Experiments are being carried out in the preservation of orange juice, and it is hoped that very shortly this will prove of considerable value to producers in that it -will provide a means of disposing of the surplus orange crop. Experiments are- also being carried out iv tobacco growing. "Free- medical attontion and medicine arc supplied to the natives. Health conditions continue to be satisfactory. During the year all remaining lepers wc.ro removed to Makogai Island, Fiji, so that for the first time during New Zealand's connection with tho • Cook Group, tho islands are freo from known cases of this .disease. No doubt incipient cases will manifest themselves in the future, but these can lie readily dealt with. A campaign against hook- , worm and yaws is stiU being carried on, with good results. j Our education system, which is free j and compulsory, is being steadily doveloped, with the valuable assistance given by the New Zealand Government. Seventeen hundred pupils are receiving instruction in Government schools in Earotonga . and the Lower Group, whilst some 400 children attend subsidised Mission schools in the Northern Group. A normal school and training college has been established hi Earotoiiga, at which promising pupils solected'fromthegroup arc being trained as native, teachers. From this! college it. is; hoped that within the next few; years a properly trained staff of native teachers will be available. Already great improvement has been made, ur tho teaching ability of the present native- teaching staff. An inspector of the New Zealand Education Department visitsiho territory periodically. '■_. '"'...■.....■ IDEAL WINIEE^EESOET. "In addition to the wireless station at Earotonga, sub-stations operato at tho islands of Aitutaki, Mangaia, and Atiu, and at present a new station at the island of Mauko is being established. There is also a, proposal to establish a station at Penrnyn, ia. the Northern Group. As this island is some 750 miles from Earotonga, wireless connection will be of great value. "The increasing popularity of Earotonga as an ideal winter resort was made more apparent last year by an increasing number of visitors,'' said Judge Ayson. "There is excellent accommodation at the Hotel Earotonga, and Now Zcalandcrs desiring to escape tho rigours of winter in New Zealand can spend'-a very-.pleasant holiday in the ' tropicaT sunshine of Karotonga. Few roaliso that' Earotonga is on tho San Francisco mail route, and is only five days' journey from Wellington."

Questioned as to the system of local government, the Eesident Commissioner stated that in each island there is an island council composed of leading eliiefs and other natives, who, with tho representative of the Administration, exerciso limited powers of local legislation;" As -to land-tenure, he said that all' tho 'land in 'the group belongs to the natives, who are fully safeguarded. No native can sell or mortgage his land, but may lease for a period not exceeding sixty years, subject to the approval of the Land Court.- The result is that there are no landless natives. No alcoholic liquor can be sold in the group except for ; medicinal purposes. Tho natives of the Cook Group are lawabiding and peaceable, and exhibit all tho estimable qualities of the Polynesian race> of which they are a branch."