No Undesirables!

Immigration and Deportation Laws Being Tightened in Cook Is.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rarotonga, Apr. 10.

TT has been learned from official sources -*■ that the existing Immigration and Deportation laws respecting the Cook Group are now in process of being re drafted. In their new form they will be considerably taughtened, both in regard to the exclusion of unpalatable types and the ejection of undesirable residents.

No information as to the precise nat ure or scope of the new regulations is as yet available, although it is not im probable that some such clause will be included as now exists in Western Samoa, where intending residents are required to deposit £5O before landing. Evidence of means—in addition to a return ticket — may also be asked from persons con templating a stay of considerable period.

Observers of Pacific policy will have noticed lately a general tendency to wards the “keep out” attitude on the part of Islands Administrations. In French Oceania, Europeans have been forbidden to remain on many of the smaller islands longer than 48 hours without special permission, and in the January number of the P.I.M. readers will recall a declaration of “closed dis tricts” in the Gilbert and Ellice Groups.

In the Cook Islands there is no equi valent of the Vagrancy Act, and unless a person commits a definite breach of the law and receives a sentence of six months or over it is virtually impossible to eject him once he has become a recognised resident. Prior to the Cook Islands Act ot 1915, however, there was provision made for the deportation of those con sidered “to be living on the natives.”

In fairness to any such would-be oppor tunist to whom the above paragraph dis closes a luscious panorama of flower wreathed maidens and free-food ad lib. under the swaying palms, it should be clearly stated that the man who, without any quid pro quo, could succceed in liv ing on the natives of to-day would be wasting his very obvious talents in these remote and profitless parts.