RARATONGA CHARGES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 212, 25 August 1911, Page 1

RARATONGA CHARGES.

CHIEF JUSTICE’S REPORT.

ADVERSE MOTION IN THE HOUSE.

NEGATIVED ON THE VOICES.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Aug. 25.

!•> the House yesterday the report of the Chief Justice on the charges against the administration of Raratonga came up for consideration. .'Jr Wright said the report was most unsatisfactory. The petitioners, whc lui J asked for tthe inquiry, wan ten evidence taken on oath with open doors. The report was an unfair, an unjust, and a biased one. The natives of the island were, he submitted, afraid of the power of the Government hence their unwillingness to come forward and give evidence. With regard to the administration of the hospitahe held that the hospital was not kept in a condition fit for the performance of operations. In connection with alcoholic liquor on the islands he main tained that the law concerning this matter was not enforced, and it was on account of his endeavours to enforce this law that Mr. Reynolds was dismissed. The lagoon was a menace to public health and should be drained. With regard to the auditor, Mr. Twiss, he was a bodyguard of Captain Smith, and therefore should not be allowed to audit the latter’s accounts. He moved that the report be referred back to the Chief Justice for furthei consideration.

Mr. Hardy seconded the motion. | Sir James Carroll said nothing humanly possible would satisfy Mr. Wright in this matter. They recognised ‘hai tLev had certain possibilities t<- discharge in connection with ttne administrations of the islands and he strongly objected to the mattei being made the channel for party politics. There had been nothing specific in against the administration. i ■<uxically 'lie whole trouble was that D . Dawson could not get! on with. plain Smith- From what i he had I • > mit the sanitation; was good ’4 v■, ot the conditions: of ' ’e • u.n .. 4 -Mauds very fa- mnabj y *ith the condition, i obtaining »<■ ?«. ’’ Zeal-nd. In his, opinion the na.nr . *.l a charges was ridieulouf Po’un-.I f.-Uing had something to gc xi nn mem. Malcontents were stirring up strife. When the charges were analysed they wen ,found to emanate from three persons. It was quite clear that Mr. Reynolds had tried to dictate to the Resident Commissioner, and the result was the termination of his engagement. Sir James Carroll said he believed in establishing educational faeilitie; on the island. The matter demanded the attention of New- Zealand legislators. Medical matters also required earnest consideration. The health othe natives required special attention. This was the whole position. He was in communication with the High Commissioner in London with a view to obtaining the services of a young medical man well up in tropical diseases to go to the islands. They had arranged for a doctor to go round the j islands of the group. Dr. Dawson ivat offered an official position at Niue, but he preferred to go to Raratonga to start private practice. Considerable improvement had been made in the management of the island since Captain Smith event to them.

Mr. Allen said a great deal of what was alleged had been proved. The Resident Commissioner was not competent to deal with matters of justice or land court matters at the islands. He charged the Government with having utilised the Chief Justice for purposes for which he ought not to have been utilised. It was not right that the Chief Justice should be asked to pronounce judgment on the Government. Continuing, he said Captain Smith had no knowledge of the language or customs of the natives. He complained of the policy of “taihoa” in connection with the administration of the Polynesian question.

Mr. Stallworthy thought the Cine. Justice's report a very fair one.

M". Massey said that in connection with this matter the country had taken up a black man’s burden. had not done their duty in the niaUH nor had they taken up their responsibilities. During recent years there had been muck dissatisfaction expressed in the administration of the Cook Islands. -He did not think it right to have appointed Sir Robert Stout a Commissioner for such work as he was required to perform. He (Mr. Massey) mentioned with regret th tthe Chief Justice was far too fom. in recent years of secret inqmr.o ■. The country was sick of Star Chard n enquiries, and more would be heart! o. the matter before the end of the ses sion. He deeply regretted that judge were brought into the arena of politic;. The report submitted was a report < ■ counsel for the defence rather than that of the Commissioner. In the matter of education he held that if ii were possible for the London Missionary Society and the St. Joseph Nuns to find the money for the purposes ol education surely the New Zealand Government, who controlled the islands, could do so. He did not reflect on the present administrator of the Cook Islands. In his interests a proper inquiry with open doors and admittance of the press should be held.

Mr. Ngata pointed out that it was impossible for the revenue of the Cook Islands to withstand the strains tha. would be put upon it if some of the suggestions as mentioned by members were put into effect. He would suggest before it is too late, and before all sorts of acts and conditions were introduced into the islands, that ah intruders should be deported from Raratonga and the Raratongans left to themselves. He did not think that matters would be allowed to be where they were, but would be brought up continually. The report of Sir Robert Stout was deserving of a good deal o. respect.

Mr. V right, in reply, said the fact of the matter was that the Chief Justice had been brought into the mattei by the Government and given instructions that probably that some of the charges were not grave. But grave; charges would have been brought hac. a proper inquiry been set up. The wish of the natives that there shook cnnnnn "u t. 3 K re P resen tative federal council should be compiled with. voices. m ° tlon ' vas negatived on the