THE COOK ISLANDS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 15

THE COOK ISLANDS

COST OF ADMINISTRATION.

'action by commerce council.

"The Cook Islands are costing the country considerably more than the gen-; era! public is aware of, and the whole question of their administration . wants looking into,” said Mr. Malcolm Stewarti president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, at the meeting of the council,, in reporting the action of the executive in 'sending a letter to.the actingPjime Minister, the Hoi). E. A. Rapsom, asking .that the matter be considered. Mr, Stewart said the island dependencies should be self-supporting, and ( the council proposed to pursue the question in order that something, should be done. ■ The letter stated that from the. Rar-; liamentary report on the Cook Islands it would appear that there was a surplus last yjar on the administration of the 'ielaAdfc amounting td £3311. It was only

—- . • by reference to the portion of the Consolidated Fund accounts referring,to.th»Cook Islands that it was seen . items were to be debited against tH> sum, leaving instead of a profit a deficit | of about £31,000, winch did not include repairs and alterations to the steamer.]■ Maui Pomare. Similarly there was *B. apparent profit,, on the administration Western Samoa. of £20,136, which' yrffe found to be a loss of about £5OOO when i the appropriate.items.in.the ed Fund expenditure were brought into account. , < . ■ \ It was respectfully, suggested by ss£ council,; that, say, A. D.. F<rfc and, P. D. N. Verschfcffelt . should ? asked to report to Cabinet on the possibility of presenting these aooounti;® such a manner that the -real burden dfk the island dependencies should b«c«»B apparent to the public. Members agreed that. it. would be.4||| sirable to have true'figures in orderyttS show what was happening, as ter was ond which required careful ination. This. action of the executive drafting the letter was ''