A—3

A party of twelve New Zealand police was brought to Rarotonga just prior to tlie close of the year for the purpose of ensuring that law and order was maintained in the event of the industrial disputes referred to previously tending to prevent the delivery of essential supplies. Half of the party have returned to New Zealand since the end of the year. The Chief Officer of Police is also the Censor of Films appointed under a Cinematograph Ordinance. During the year, 194 films were submitted for censorship. Details of the police establishment at 31st March, 1948, were as follows :

PART lII.—EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS 16. Objectives of Education System The immediate objective of the education system —to ensure that all the children growing up are literate and given a sound basis for the exercise of their natural intelligence —is practically achieved, and is being sustained by the progressive improvement of primary-school facilities. The broader objective and long-term aim of educating the community to a wider intellectual life and to the assumption of a greater degree of responsibility in the management of its own affairs is more difficult of attainment, largely because of the scattered and isolated geographical position of the Cook Islands. The difficulty is being overcome to a degree by the provision of scholarships for promising pupils in New Zealand schools, where eleven children are at present receiving higher education to fit them for responsible positions in their own land. The establishment of a secondary school in Rarotonga, at present under way, will also be helpful in this respect. 17. Organization of Education Education in the Cook Islands is under the general supervision of the Officer for Islands Education in New Zealand, and is directed in the Cook Islands by an Education Officer assisted by European and Native teachers. The staff at present consists of 13 Europeans and 133 Natives, the Europeans being recruited from the teaching service in New Zealand. Schools are conducted by the Administration (eleven schools), the London Missionary Society (seven schools), and the Roman Catholic Mission (six schools). Except for the one at Pukapuka, there are no Administration schools in the Northern Group islands, or at Mitiaro, in the Southern Group. Subsidies are paid to the London Missionary Society to assist education in the Northern Group.

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— Chief Officer. Senior Sergeant. Sergeants. Constables. Total. Rarotonga Aitutaki .. 1 1 8 6 11 Mangaia .. Atiu o 5 6 6 Mauke 3 4 Mitiaro 2 3 Manihiki .. 3 3 Rakahanga Penrhyn .. Pukapuka 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 Ten island? . 1 2 6 40 49