COOK ISLAND GROUP

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 16

COOK ISLAND GROUP

ADMINISTRATION COST.

DIFFICULTY OF POSITION.

An effort to ease the burden on the Consolidated Fund for the cost of administering the Cook Islands has been made for some time past, says Sir Apirana Ngata, in the annual report on the Cook Islands Department, presented, in the House last week. It is recalled by the ■ Minister that the National Expenditure Commission recommended that the department should be amalgamated with that of External Affairs, under one permanent head, and that the grant® from the New Zealand Treasury to the Cook Islands and Niue administrations he reduced to £lO,OOO, special mention being made of a reduction in the expenditure oa education.

The Minister says the savings estimated in the current year’s appropriations are £ll,OOO, and such further economies as may result from the proposed amalgamation. He adds that it may be inferred from the commission’s findings that it considers the time ripe for casting more responsibility for administrative and humanitarian services on.the local treasuries, and that it assumes a capacity in the latter to carry these effectively. “The policy of New Zealand in the administration of the islands of the Cook group was from the inception modelled on that of Native Affairs here,” says the Minister. “From 1919 onward there was a great expansion in the public services, especially in regard to education and health, the development of the Island fruit trade, and the postal and wireless facilities. The great distances of these islands from New Zealand has necessitated transplanting to them a larger measure of services than would be required in, say, a county or district on the mainland of New Zealand itself.

“The cost to the New Zealand Treasury in 1931-32, apart from the motor vessel Maui Pomare, was £23,852 for services rendered to 15,200 of its population, or £1 Us. 4d. a head, whidi compares more than favourably with many administrative areas in New Zealand.”