Happily

Where Two Races Mingle Happily New Zealand's Good Record in Cook Islands

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, June 6.

A GOOD deal has been said recently about “the dead hands of Canberra and Wellington” and their effect on the development of Pacific Territories.

The Cook Islands are not often men tioned in these discussions—they are small, unimportant, and probably do not weigh the scale one way or the other.

The Mandated Territory of Western Samoa is New Zealand’s largest tropical administration, and has grabbed most of the publicity, which would suggest that this has been ignorant and inefficient.

The 15 small and widely-scattered islands of the Cook Group have been administered by Wellington since 1901.

For 43 years the 14,000 native inhabitants of these islands have lived with dignity and security in co-operation with this Administration.

This period has been immune from any suggestion of serious disaffection. In fact, the loyalty of the Cook Islanders is a source of considerable pride to them; and this is evidenced by their whole hearted participation in both world wars.

At the present day, two main factors emerge as examples of wise and tolerant government. These are:— (a) Every acre of land, barring a few small sites for Government buildings, is owned by the natives of the Cook Islands.

It is impossible to purchase land, and leases are now restricted to terms of 60 years. At first glance this might seem seriously to retard the development of the Territory, but it is a long-term policy which is expected to reap a just reward when the natives, are sufficiently advanced

to make the best possible use of their own resources for their own benefit. (b) Nowhere, perhaps, in the world, is race prejudice less apparent. Natives and Europeans abide by one code of laws.

They mix freely in social and business contacts and it may be said that, barring a few transitory malcontents, each race has a proper and discriminating regard for the other’s “way of life.” The half caste is not a social misfit, but a valued and responsible member of the com munity. rE New Zealand Government has provided an average of £24,000 annually for many years for the upkeep of free educational and medical services. The population is steadily on the increase. Yaws and hookworm, once prevalent, are now practically wiped out, and a campaign is at present being waged against the remaining enemy, tubercu losis.

Economically, conditions have been stable. The Maori has never been com pelled by circumstances to desert his traditional attitude of dignified indepen dence. No European business has become bankrupt or has withdrawn for economic reasons during the past 20 years.

Much, of course, remains to be done; but it is realised that the Polynesian people, of all peoples, cannot be hurried.

Remarkable adaptability in the Maori character is matched by a stubborn con servatism which cannot be over-ridden.

The rapid development of the aeroplane and its attendant modernisation will probably force the New Zealand Govern ment to readjust, in some degree, this policy of a native reservation. However, discounting outside interference, it may be expected that this will be done with out disregard for the primary interest of New Zealand’s past administration of the Cook Islands—the welfare of the kindly Polynesian folk who inhabit them.

Captain Thomas H. Switzer, well-known Port of Brisbane, pilot and formerly an officer on the old Papuan Government ship, “Merrie England,” died in Brisbane on June 18, aged 81. He took part in the survey of the boundary of Dutch New Guinea, and a reef between the Cape Melville and Howick Groups was named after him. He is survived by a daughter and five sons.