ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED

Evening Post, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 9

ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED

Criticism of >New. Zealand's administration of her dependencies in the Cook Islands formed the ..subject of an address by Mr. H. D. Brass (Christchurch) : at:the recent Science Congress -in Melbourne. He said the attitude of the New: Zealand Government and New Zealand people towards the Cook Islands, dependencies of the Dominion, was difficult to understand in the light of the; hopes and promises of the politicians who had thirty or, so years ago succeeded in annexing the group on the understanding that New Zealand would regard herself responsible for'the welfare of the native population.

Today administration of the.Cook Islands, which were proclaimed a protectorate in 1888, was'vested in a separate' Department of State under the nominal control of a Minister of the Crown; but the absence of island representation, in the New Zealand Parliament, with a consequent immunity from political: criticism and the need for votecatching, permitted the Government of the day practically to ignore .island problems. The Government did not care to spend money in the group, either for rehabilitation' or development. . It preferred to use the citrus fruit trade as a bargaining weapon in its negotiations with Australia rather than to restore and extend' its own forgotten plantations. Very half-hearted attempts had been made to bring prosperity to the group, and to guide the people through their social puzzlements