A—s

REPORT

1. INTRODUCTION General This report covers activities under the immediate administrative direction of the Department of Island Territories. Separate reports are made in respect of the undermentioned island groups having their own Administrations under the charge of the Minister of Island Territories : Cook Islands (including Niue) .. .. .. .. A-3 Western Samoa .. .. .. .. .. A-4 Tokelau Group .. .. .. .. .. .. A-f> Functions and Organization New Zealand's first administrative responsibility in respect of areas in the South Pacific was accepted in 1901 when the Cook Islands were brought within the boundaries of New Zealand. In 1902 a Minister in Charge of the Cook Islands was appointed and the Cook Islands Department was formed. In 1921 New Zealand was granted a mandate over the Territory of Western Samoa, and the Samoa Act, 1921, provided for the appointment of a Minister and Department of External Affairs. The staffs of the Cook Islands and the External Affairs Department were combined, but during some periods there were separate Ministers in charge of each of the two main island groups. Under the External Affairs Act, 1943, the Department of External Affairs became responsible for the direction of the Dominion's foreign affairs, including New Zealand's offices in other Commonwealth countries, while the Department of Island Territories, created under the Island Territories Act, 1943, assumed the administration of the island dependencies. On Ist January, 1949, the Tokelau Group, which had since 1925 been administered by New Zealand on behalf of the United Kingdom Government, became part of New Zealand and was placed under the general direction of the Department of Island Territories, although actually administered by the High Commissioner of Western Samoa. In December, 1949, in order to co-ordinate Government activities there, the Chatham Islands were placed under the administrative direction of the Department, and a Resident Commissioner, appointed in February, 1950, took up office towards the end of March, 1950. Besides the various island groups, the Department directly controls the operations of the New Zealand Government m.v. " Maui Pomare " and administers through a General Manager the New Zealand Reparation Estates in Western Samoa. It also is associated with the South Pacific Commission and the South Pacific Health Service. On account of the fact that most immediate contacts with the islands are through Auckland, the Department maintains a branch office there which is concerned with the procurement and shipping of equipment and stores for the various Administrations and for the " Maui Pomare," the movement of personnel to and from the islands and the general welfare of islanders visiting New Zealand and residing in Auckland. The Officer for Islands Education is responsible under the Department for the co-ordination of educational policies in the groups, the appointment of New Zealand teachers on secondment, the publication of School Journals in the vernacular of the different groups, and the supply of modern teaching equipment. He annually inspects on behalf of the Education Department all teachers on loan to the New Zealand dependencies and to Fiji and Tonga.

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