THE COOK ISLANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 4

THE COOK ISLANDS

These unhappy islands were happy enough under the Liberal Government. Nevertheless they were a thorn in the side of “ Reform.” As we showed yesterday, there is reason to believe that they are still occupying that position with regard to “Reform.” That party has in the interval obtained possession of the reins of government. But that does not appear to have made much difference to the filler feelings of which the ‘“Reformers'” of this Do-minion-claim'a monopoly. The only difference is that then the “ Informers” of the past loudly complained of the pricking of the; thorn in their toosensitive flesh, whereas now they are adopting the Spartan practice of bottling up their agony. Instead of declaring the islands an infenie, as they once did, they are smilingly, so the story goes, meditating a rather startling inquiry under cover of a holiday excursion for His Excellency the Governor with an Executive Council to help him to enjoy it. It is even said that in this heavy labour they are to be assisted by two warships. We may remark how great a pity it is that the Toy Navy is not yet a “Fleet in Being." Be that as it may, this _is not the first appearance among the islands of the gleaming Pacific of the combination to be best described as “ The Eiarl and the Doctor.” We mav wonder at this stage whether the resulting writing will be as . interestingly fascinating as the famous book of the first combination. The official explanation of the visit is that it is purely official on the part of Their Excellencies, who are to be accompanied 1 by two Ministers and one warsbipi the latter being “ detailed in accordance with viceregal practice.” It is noteworthy that the official explanation does not deny that there may be an inquiry, and does not explain why the usual practice of having one Minister in attendance has been departed from. As to the warships or the originating rumour, one is accounted for by the usual practice. An obstinate rumour still persists in seeing two. Is it possible that there may be a second regardless of the “usual practice” ? The absence of any official denial of business of a serious nature may be accounted for by Mr Glover’s specific statement that there is a great deal of. annoyance and discontent among the natives on account of the wav their lands have been dealt with by Colonel Gudgeon under instructions from the “Reform vemment. Now this colonel retired in the time of the Liberal Government. He took charge when the islands were annexed, remained in residence awhile, and was not pressed to stay longer. “Reform” coming into power promptly pressed him to return, and we have the discontent described by Mr Glover on the authority of the Queen of_ Rarotonga, and declared to be universal throughout the islands. Now when the colonel was not pressed by the Liberals to stay Captain Ewan Smith was sent by them to govern. In his time there was peace, general content, and good government with a self-supporting finance and a flourishing trade carefully fostered. But "Reform” was not satisfied. . and made it appear the islands were a pandemonium.' Mr Allen, in the furious debate on the subject, went so far as to say that the Liberal Government had made a greater mess of their problem of governing native races, than the Australians had of theirs, and had entirely destroyed the prestige of our race as a successful ruler of savage tribes. All this farrago was proved, by comnetent imnartinl innuirv to he absolutely groundless. “Reform” described the. appointment of the judge who made the inouiry ns “not clean,” and sulked, declaring that in its hands these islands could be a paradise. It got them into its hands, and here we have a worse than anything in the whole range of the unmeasured abuse heaped on the Jlheral Government on the authority 6f busybodies, >i ohodies and impracticable faddists. To complete the humiliation of “Reform” the '■bar"'' is qf the failure of the "Reform” land policy. We shall await developments with some interest.