COOK ISLANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25958, 26 September 1945, Page 2

COOK ISLANDS

PROPOSAL FOR SEAT IN PARLIAMENT DIFFICULTIES OUTLINED (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. The question would receive serious consideration and he felt that first of all an effort should be made to draw the people of the Islands closer together by the formation of an islands’ council from which a representative or representatives might come to the Parliament of New Zealand, said the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, in the House of Representatives to-day. He was replying to Mr C. M. Bowden (Oppn., Wellington West), who had asked what steps had been taken to give representation to the Cook Islands in Parliament. Mr Bowden added that it was a well recognised principle that there should be no taxation without representation. Mr Fraser said that New Zealand would be pledged under the procedure to be worked out from the San Francisco declaration to give the people something along the lines suggested by Mr Bowden. Actually this matter had received the attention of successive Governments. The Cook Islands had been for many years part of the territories of New Zealand and the procedure adopted had been to give the natives a voice through island councils. Both natives and Europeans were represented on tlife council at Rarotonga. The council gave consideration to social and economic questions. When he was last in the islands, Mr Fraser added, there did not seem to be much enthusiasm about the question of representation. It was suggested that efforts should be made to get representatives of all the Cook Islands together to discuss mutual problems, but one of the major difficulties was transport. The matter was left at that.

Many expedients had been resorted to to meet such circumstances throughout the world. Mr Fraser said. The laws of New Zealand did not apply to the Cook Islands, w'hich had their own rules and regulations. In the event of a representative of the Cook Islands having a seat in Parliament, the question arose as to what basis—full voting powers or, as with the Northern Territories in the Australian Parliament, representation and the right to join in discussions but with no vote. Another point to be borne in mind w’as a vote for the islands. If the general W'elfare of the people was to be attempted, the expenditure would grow. A great deal could be done, particularly in regard to the wealth of the people.