THE FRINGE OF THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11854, 4 January 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FRINGE OF THE EMPIRE.

:p « - t ' • ■ . -No.-V. ,t ; • e [by josiah martin.] rt , : * s NEW ZEALAND -EXTENDED. ,t \ .■■'■,. .- THE COOK ISLANDS. .s"; ..■;;-. : ,-,/: -~-•■?■- '//I/- , "'",. .'■;■ -.'■,; '■■ /t'. : /'•'■■?" J.' TRADE AND FINANCE. 7 The great, improvement in / commercial '* affaire, which some of the traders so 'con- £ fidently anticipated would follow immedi,fc ately upon annexation to New Zealand, has i- not yet manifested itself. ''' To a casual visitor one of the chief reaa sons for the depression in business from r which the island . group ;is undoubtedly suf- i e fering is the close competition of a compara- '" tively;' large number of traders for a very a limited amount of custom. / n - The total annual imports for the group" l ~: averages about £'25,000, made up as fol- '' lows: —' ' Provisions, breadstuff's, ' - groceries, ~ ~■-;-■ animals ......,,..;;. .... ......... £8.250 ° /Clothing'and piece goods: ... ... 7,50') -*'Wine, spirits, beer ...... ... 750 © Timber and timber manufactures 1,751 e Hardware . ... ......' ... .... 2.5&0 3 /Tobacco ..... ... ........ ■■' 6t'o «; Other goods ....'... ... ...//.../ 3,750 I The whole, of ; this trade would not be s considered a ".very..*.-great turnover for one I mercantile firm, but when it comes to be s divided between several islands, each with 1 , its . competing trading stations, the share , which falls to each is necessarily very small, - as the profits have been reduced by coms petition to a minimum, and the expenses of a collection and distribution have been in--5 creased, it is easy to see that business men are not making rapid fortunes. ■■>. The advent of the' Chinaman introduces a ; very I disturbing factor into Island trade. In the Society ; Islands he has almost entirely usurped the business of the local storekeeper. lie is: a keen trader, doing busi- ' ness upon the ; smallest margin of profit. He is everywhere known as a hard and industrious worker, but he lives a mean, 'r sordid,.and thrifty life, crowding together ', with his kind in most miserable quarters, J and by the European he is not considered i at all a desirable neighbour. / .'"'"! The Cook Islands" have recently, passed . some restrictive measures, imposing a poll > tax on the further introduction of Chinamen, but there are several already engaged /in " business, and; while .they, are doing fairly well themselves they are making it very j I much - harder for , the European :i storekeeper , to make a living. . [ According to Rarotongan law a , . cannot be sued for debt one- would, therefore, suppose, as a consequence of this provision, that all business would be conducted upon a strictly cash basis. This is not al- . ways the , case, for traders eager to secure ; custom , are often induced to accept from natives promises for future payments which are not always redeemed. A considerable amount of Chili money j. passes current in the,islands; indeed, prices ; are nearly always quoted in Chili dollars. The natives ■:• themselves much prefer to be / paid in these i coins/ as they "get so much more in quantity. The value of silver coinage depends upon the amount; of gold that it can command in exchange. -/ Our national silver currency can; ■ be always redeemed at- its face value, while Chili money is only worth its weight as metallic silver.• ;So slong as it preserves a ' definite ratio to British; money, and its pur-: chasing power is /not; more than its .. market \ i ■ value, it only supplies^a! temporary de- ; .'. ficiency in. the circulating medium, and' dpex : not at all disturb "the usual; course of business/ ' ' 'Merchants have ''frequently imported i British silver, but: as the Government will only accept the 'coin /of the realm it soon/ finds its way into-the public' Treasury, and v ; is thus withdrawn from circulation. /At present; rate of exchange the Chili dollar is J worth'about Is 9d, .the value of the silver it contains, and goods purchased are paid ' for either in /English or Chili/ money at ■' tikis rate." / INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. • The income of /the Cook Island Government has been mainly derived from Customs '. duties, post' office, trade and liquor licenses, and Court fees,/ estimated in the Budget for 1901 as follows: — / Customs ;.. ..* ..< ... £1.500 Post office ... ...... .... 300 Licenses ... ...... ... ... 400 • Court fees and fines ...... . 250 Other items ...... ... ... 50 .'■'/:■ £2,500 : : The expenditure for the same period was estimated at: — / ■ Official salaries—postal, etc. ... £520 Parliament / ... • ... ... ... 130 : Court—law and police ... ... 355 *■ Medical hospital ... ... 477 Education. // , ... ~,... ... .... 125 Printing ....... ... ... ... 100 Government offices ... „ ... 500 ; Schooner subsidy ... ... ... 300 Contingents, etc. / ...... ... -213 '■ ■'■■■'.' ■ ' ■ . ,£2 725 THE NEW LAWS. } ' When by Royal proclamation these Pacific islands were included within ; the boundaries :of New Zealand .many interested persons supposed that; residents would thenceforth be subject to the same laws,' and share the same privileges as the colonists of New Zealand. /-- The Act passed last session to provide for the •Government of the Cook and other Pacific islands : within the i boundaries of New Zealand, suspends the statute laws of New Zealand from operating in the islands, and confirms the ; local customs and usages " which were in force, sanctioning the authority, of the Federal Parliament and native/councils.- / r . ■ The same Act gives power to the Governor of New Zealand. to alter, suspend,', or repeal any native : laws," and to ; introduce any New Zealand laws which in his opinion shall be expedient for the peace," order, good government, and welfare of the inhabitants. The Governor also appoints and determines the power and duties of the " Resident Commissioner," who will continue to : exercise the authority possessed by 'the British Resident. • : The measure,"'therefore,', seems to give to the Governor almost the power of a dictator, who may delegate his authority to the Resident Commissioner. . The Act permits an appeal from the: Island law court to the Supreme Court of New Zealand, and gives authority for the! establishment of a Land Court to ascertain < and . determine native titles,, etc. The question; of Customs duties has long been in. suspense,; and now the new Act de-; clares that as these Pacific islands are; an i integral part of New Zealand no drawback can be allowed ;on goods shipped from the colony, and no duty can be charged on; i goods' coming from New Zealand to/the 1 Islands, 'or.; from the Islands to New Zea- < land. _ « / This reciprocity is.not likely to be viewed j with favour' by "the . residents, for it will i deprive the Island exchequer of two-thirds 1 of its Customs return;/ and about one-half ] its : income. /The: added 10 per cent, 1 imposed by/ the new Act upon , goods 1 imported from elsewhere, which would have been free under the New Zealand tariff, I is a very small set-off against such an enormous loss of revenue. ■, ' . ] , PUBLIC WORKS. ' :■ Coming :in unaer the; New : Zealand flag j many residents confidently look forward to I an /increased expenditure, ;to provide for ; ( what they consider : urgent necessities. } The Government require the services of a j despatch boat, which will be some charge / upon its finances./' The merchant traders are hoping to have some improvement in the; /j | approaches ;to ' the Island : ports, and the ;• /. people expect improved: roads and better ■ j facilities for internal communication. /There :' 14 much work to be done;.everywhere,'.and: to provide for this an increase in the Island , revenue was confidently expected. .; ■■■. / , : /As the natives expect to escape taxation,; :, and-the resources of the islands are so j '.? limited, it is hopeless to look /for/any in-, crease in local revenue, so that if the Island] '{■■. Treasury, is to be deprived of £1000 a year J by. the loss of duty on imports from New

Zealand it does not appear possible to raise the necessary funds to carry on the Government efficiently and promote necessary public works without an appeal to New Zealand for substantial help. , AX ISLAND SANATORIUM. The advantages which New Zealand [ may derive from the annexation; of /these: I islands are not. confined to politics or trade, I for. Rarotonga particularly possesses unI questioned attractions as a tourist and health I resort. - The climate is remarkably ■■.. hue,' I the scenery enchant ing,; and, the native resii dents; very interesting. <• ' - ~ "'■■■ The only- disadvantage; under i which {it. : is at present labouring is the .want of; hot el or other accommodation for visitors. ■ ■With cheap return ; fares from New Zealand; and comfortable quarters on the island, Kai'otonga would prove, a, most delightful place' of residence for the,.winter months. To a student of natural science these \ lslands open up a wide field for investigation. - For the artist there is much to delight the eye in the -beautiful hills, always :. exhibiting some new atmospheric effect, the luxu-; rious foliage and brilliant flowers, the lovely river and coast scenery,; and the . homes and habits of the people, which will make an endless variety of charming pictures. . ,*''.. / For the: sportsman ■•{.■ there is /plenty; of canoeing and excellent fishing. .For the holiday-seeker the natives will give a variety of entertainments in their songs and dances. These latter are really unique exhibitions, in which each performer i,is a stage,to himself or herself, i' The {stage is something like a three-tiered flower-stand,: and a number of: these are arranged in rows, .while the | dancers ':-. turn about and wheel about, on (this curious stage with wonderful effect in most excellent time. : : : The perfectly restful and quiet life of the; islands would.'make a sojourn among them the most/natural; and certain remedy J for nerve exhaustion and all the torments arising from.brain fag or mental worry. There is nothing in. the world so • entirely opposed to all the excitements and anxieties; of business life, and so likely/ to give '", to { the worn:and weary that perfect change:so; necessary to / restore the ; mental equilibrium, as a trip among these lovely ■ islands ;{: and we feel quite, sure that in a few years, their great advantages as a sanatorium will be fnllv appreciated. . We must not omit to mention that although; the land of the various islands {is nominally vested in the ariki on behalf of : the tribe it is virtually owned {by the {high/ chiefs, or mataiapos, from whom the sovereign ariki is, chosen. __ Next in rank to these are, the '.rangitira,, or gentlemen, who occupy sections! of land granted to them by the chiefs or landlords,{ under: conditions as to certain ; feudal ser-{ vices being rendered. Between these; and ■ the : common people ! is a ; numerous {class; formed "of the younger sons' and 'relations; of the aristocracy..