A SILVER COCONUT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2727, 9 July 1925, Page 5

A SILVER COCONUT.

PRESENTATION TO SIR MAUI POMARE. “THE LITTLE HE HAS DONE” APPRECIATED. [Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 7. A question asked by Mr. P. Fraser in tlie House this afternoon with reference to alleged compulsion being applied to the natives of Niue to subscribe towards the cost of a presentation to the Minister in charge of the Cook Islands (the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare) formed the subject of a statement by the Minister in the House later in the day. The presentation was to be made this month to mark the Minister’s long association with the Islands and was to consist of a silver cocoanut. The Minister stated that on March 12 last, the secretary of the Cook Islands Department (Mr. J. D. Gray) advised the people of Niue that some of the New Zealand Maoris and the Cook Islanders proposed to make the presentation to mark the Minister's long record as Minister of the Cook Islands. In that capacity ho had had the longest reconl of any Native Minister in the British Empire. For four months previously there had been no communication with Niue and as no further mail was going until June, the secretary had no other means of apprising the people of what was proposed, except through the resident Commissioner. On June 14 Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., made inquiries at the Cook Islands Department, stating that ho had received a report from a correspondent of Niue to the effect that the natives had been asked to subscribe to a testimonial to the Minister.

Sir Maui said that when his secretary mentioned the matter to him, that was the first he had heard of the proposals. “I told him,” said Sir Maui, “that under no consideration would I receive any gift where compulsion was used.” Thereupon a telegram was despatched to the resident Commissioner at Niue, Instructing him to assemble the Council immediately and to inform its members that the Minister would not accept any gift subscribed to under any suggestion of compulsion. One June 30, a telegram was received from the Comissioner, stating that the natives were very indignant that a report had been circulated that compulsion'was to be used in obtaining the subscriptions. There was no further truth and the natives desired to assure the Minister that the gift was given with their most sincere and united congratulations. Sir Maui added that on June 3, a letter was addressed by the Island Council to the Minister, informing him that it was desired in July to make a presentation to mark his record of the longest continuous -service as Minister in charge of the Cook and as a -Minister for the Crown in the New Zealand Government. The natives said (hat they desired to tender the Minister their whole-hearted and united congratulations, as they fully appro - ciated his attitude towards them and his constant loyalty towards Polynesia. The Niue Islanders not only held him in respect, but cherished for him a warm love deep within their hearts. His sincerity of purpose and endeavour to know their desires had had inspired them with high ideals and won their confidence. Sir, it seems to me,” said Sir Maul Pomare, after reading the last-men-tioned letter, “that there must have been some other motive for bringing this matter before this House, cither to belittle me as Minister of these Islands, or for some other party move, but, at any rate, these people away out on the borders of this Empire appreciate the little that I have done for them.”