THE COOK ISLANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26274, 4 October 1946, Page 8

THE COOK ISLANDS

ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. Authority for the establishment of the Legislative Council and the Native Appellate Court of the Cook Islands is contained in the Cook Islands Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. The Bill also contains provisions for land, development in the territory. The Bill was read a second time pro forma so that the sections dealing with the establishment of the Legislative Council and the Native Appellate Court could be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, who is Minister of Island Territories, said that the Native Appellate Court would deal with appeals instead of their having to come to New Zealand. The provisions dealing with land development were designed to assist the citrus replanting scheme. The Bill states that the resident commissioner of Rarotonga, acting with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council of the Cook Islands, may make aordinances for the peace, order, and good government of the Cook Islands other than Niue. The Legislative Council shall consist of 10 unofficial members elected by the island councils and official members comprising the resident commissioner and 10 other persons holding such other offices in the Cook Islands public service as the Governor-General may determine. Regulations may be made prescribing the mode of election of the - unofficial members. The Native Appellate Court shall comprise judges of the Native Land Court of the Cook Islands and. such judges, if any, of the Native Land Court of New Zealand as the GovernorGeneral may appoint. Any two or more of the judges, other than the judge who determined the matter in dispute, shall have power to act as the Native Appellate Court. The Native Appellate Court may state a case for the Supreme Court. The section of the Bill dealing with land development in the Cook Islands, states that the resident commissioner may cultivate land on behalf of the owners The Bill sets out the procedure for the dispersal of revenues received by the commissioner Moneys expended or advanced by the commissioner for land development purposes shall be paid out of 'the Cook Islands Treasury. Penalties are provided for interference and obstruction in carrying out development work