OUR MISSING FRIEND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8654, 12 February 1914, Page 4

OUR MISSING FRIEND

The news telegraphed from To Aroha that at the close of Mr Massey's meeting Dr Pomare “spoke briefly” is gratifying and reassuring in so far as it furnishes incontrovertible evidence that the honourable gentleman is occasionally awake and active. Like his friend and colleague Mr Herries, the amiable Doctor periodically passes from the range of the public eye, and people arc apt to wonder what has become ot him. However, it is pleasing to know that he is all right, and that he “spoke briefly.” This is quite as much as we could have expected. As a. rule, Dr Pomare in public has very little to say, and that little is easy to say briefly. But if he were as closely in touch with the affairs of the Cook Islands as he ought to be, there is a good deal that Dr Pomare might tell the people concerning the renewed discontent in that officially-neglected locality. . Accounts have been coming to New Zealand, for example, of recent decisions of Judge McCormick’s that are being set aside by Mr Gudgeon. Does the Hon. Dr Pomare know anything about this matter? If he does, why are the people of New Zealand not admitted to bis confidence? One of the problems of the moment is why a retired official like Mr Gudgeon was sent to the Cook Islands .at all, and another conundrum equally difficult to solve is why he is in the position to reverse the decisions of his successor, and more especially the decisions of a trained and experienced lawyer like Judge McCormick. However, the probability is that Dr Pomare knows nothing whatever about the matter. As a rule, the man in the street appears to bo better informed on Cook Islands affairs than Dr Pomare, and when he is discussing them the man in the street does not “speak briefly.”