Rarotongans For New

Zealand

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, July 6.

YOUNG native women and lads con tinue to leave Rarotonga by the dozen for New Zealand, where they contract for domestic and farm labour.

This development is now receiving the attention of the Cook Islands Adminis tration, which in most cases deals with the details of employment, etc., medically examines the young people before leav ing the island, and acts as chaperon generally.

The conditions for these youngsters in New Zealand appear to be satisfactory, judging from their glowing and some times registered letters which are duti fully sent to the poor “old folks at home”.

Rarotongans await their home-coming (and probable subsequent dissatisfaction) with interest.

A report was current in Sydney in July that Lieut.-Colonel E. T. W. Love, commander of the Maori battalion with the New Zealand forces abroad, and husband of Makea Nui Takau Ariki, Rarotonga (the newly-appointed para mount chief), was very prominent in leading his men in some of their famous bayonet charges against the Germans.

Newspaper correspondents referred re peatedly to the bravery of the Maoris, and the gallantry of Lieut.-Colonel Love.

Mr. Eric Ramsden, founder of the Paci fic Islands Society in Sydney, who acted as its secretary until this year, will leave for New Zealand, for medical treatment at Rotorua, at the end of August. “Busby of Waitangi”, Mr. Rams den’s new book, has been published in New Zealand.