Cook Islanders Form Government

Sponsored Workers' Union

But Only After Intense Campaign by NZ Trade Union Representatives

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, July 14.

AS a result of the widespread attention being drawn to the troubles of the Cook Islands, negotiations between the officials of the NZ Waterside Workers’

Union, the NZ Seamen’s Union and the NZ Government, led to the matter being referred to the 1946 Conference of the NZ Federation of Labour which was held in Wellington in June.

The Conference elected Mr. K. Baxter (secretary of the NZ Federation of Lab our) and Mr. T. F. Anderson (secretary of the Auckland Branch of the NZ Seamen’s Union) to proceed to Rarotonga to in vestigate industrial conditions there with a view to the formation of a union or unions. The matter with which the con ference was mainly concerned was “the low wage rate prevailing in the Cook Islands in relation to the increased cost of living.”

The problems of the Cook Islands has, of course, already brought into being an organisation known as the Cook Islands’

Progressive Association, with headquart ers in Auckland, which has assumed a political character and has sought to give expression to the needs of the Cook Islanders. Under the direction of the CIPA, a union of workers was formed in Rarotonga some time ago. Strike action as a means of obtaining redress has al ready been resorted to by the Rarotonga waterside workers in connection with the working of the “Maui Pomare.”

The CIPA, however, is not recognised by the NZ Government which, after nego tiations with the Federation of Labour, has agreed to gazette a regulation giving the right to employers and employees to form recognised unions and to submit disputes to an Industrial Relations Offi cer.

WHEN the two Federation of Labour representatives arrived in Raro tonga thev had a somewhat cold reception from the CIPA-sponsored work ers’ union, and had immediately some inkling of the difficulties which would beset them.

Great concern was expressed by the local “union” that Mr. P. Potter and Mr.

A. Henry (both CIPA leaders) had not been allowed to accompany the visitors, and it was stated that a radiogram had been received by the CIPA representa tives in Rarotonga instructing them not to recognise the Federation of Labour delegates.

During his many public addresses in j Rarotonga, Mr. Baxter explained that he? and Mr. Anderson had been elected to < come to Rarotonga by the workers of : NZ; Mr. Potter was also a nominee, but; was not elected. At the same time there t was nothing at all to prevent Mr. Potter' coming to Rarotonga at his own expense,, had he wished to do so. In the case of ; Mr .Henry (a Rarotongan-born Euro- ■ nesian) he was not only invited to ac- ■ company the visitors but the NZ Govern- ■ ment had offered to pay his full expenses,, and his passage on the plane had actu ally been booked. But, after all arrange ments had been made Mr. Henry chosen not to come to Rarotonga if Mr. Potter' were not coming.

Mr. H. Ward, who ably assisted the?

Federation representatives in their nego tiations with the Rarotongans, said thatd there had been no question whatever of! preventing the CIPA leaders from travel ling to Rarotonga. He himself had paidt his own fare to and from Rarotonga, noti once, but several times, in the interestsa of the Islanders, and there was nothings to prevent Mr. Potter from doing the same.

DURING their two weeks’ stay, Mr.' Baxter and Mr. Anderson held meetings with waterside workers,? public works employees, plantation work ers, packing shed workers and store em ployees.

And they met with many obstacles and) objections to the formation of a union.

Among the difficulties they had to overcome were those of language and the slower-moving mentality of the Poly-’ nesian, who requires plenty of time to, ponder each point before making a de-; cision. By now, the average, simples neace-loving Cook Islander is bewildereo by the political maelstrom in which hej is being caught up, and he finds it diffi-i cult to decide which is: the best course to; follow.

There was strong opposition by thti CIPA leaders, who naturally feel that tha formation of a recognised trade uniori would usurp their power and purpose The CIPA was mainly responsible for thu difficulties confronting the Federation oc Labour representatives.

Mr. Baxter stated that the influence oo the Auckland headquarters of the “which was itself apparently under thr influence of Europeans paying allegiance to a political party foreign to New Zealand.” was an unseen force whidc made their task an extremely difficuh and unenviable one.

Mr. Baxter and Mr. Anderson, howevei? continued to explain patiently at then various meetings, the aims and purpose of forming “a proper workers’ union.” I was pointed out that “the present sod called workers’ union” in Rarotonga has no standing in law—a union had to bJ recognised by and registered with thl Government.

After a fortnight of strenuous effon the NZ Labour representatives appears to finallv make clear the object of thl proposed union. Many of the workers aoj cepted the idea, and some native leadeis spoke strongly in its favour. At lated meetings a resolution to form a unioD was carried.

(Continued on Page 67)

Wage Increases

IN their many meetings, the NZ repre

sentatives promised the Rarotongans

that if they agreed to form a union, certain recommended wage increases would come into effect immediately. Fol lowing is a copy of the public notice posted on July 8, after general agreement to form the union.

Having been informed by the representatives of the Federation of Labour who are now visit ing Rarotonga that the workers of the Cook Islands will form a Union of Workers and apply for its registration at Rarotonga under Regu lations to be promulgated, the Right Honourable the Prime Minister has agreed to payment of 8/- per day for waterfront workers and to in creases for all others as recommended by Mr.

Gilmour. This will apply from and including the April “Maui Pomare” for waterfront workers and for women packers as from the date their request was made. Future payments will con tinue on this basis, on the understanding that a Union will be formed with affiliation to the Federation of Labour. The rates of wages approved, subject to the foregoing conditions, are as follows: Wharf Labourers Week days: 8/- per 8-hour day. Overtime at the rate of time and half, including time worked during meal hours.

Sundays: 10/- per 8-hour day. Overtime at the rate of 2/- per hour.

The same rates shall be paid to storemen and labourers employed by Messrs. A. B. Donald, Ltd., while such workers are employed on water side work.

Labourers Public Works labourers, air-strip labourers, packing shed labourers and nurseries labourers shall be paid at the rate of 6/- per day. The rates of wages of workers employed in higher classifications in these undertakings shall be increased by 1/- a day. This relates to fore men and skilled workers.

Plantation Workers Plantation workers shall be paid at the rate of 4/6 a day with kai. The wages of plantation foremen shall be increased by 1/- a day.

Government Nurseries Foreman The Government nurseries foreman shall be paid at the rate of 10/- a day.

Stores Employees Labourers employed in stores shall be paid at the rate of 6/- a day.

No general alteration in the case of other store and shop employees, but Mr. Gilmour has arranged with Messrs. Bateson and Piri Maoate to review certain individual store and shop workers’ wages and to recommend increases where it is considered proper.

Packing Shed Inspectors Fruit inspectors shall be paid at the rate of 15/- a day while employed in the sheds, and at the rate of 10/- a day while employed in the field.

Women Packers and Debuttoners Packers: 2Vzd. a case.

Debuttoners; 2d. a case.

No payment is recommended for faulty packing.

Ten minute rest period, morning and afternoon.

Editorial Note

IT is certain that even the “simple”

Polynesian will see the connection be tween joining a recognised trade union and gaining an increase in wages.

The Government announcement of July 8, printed above, is a strangely worded document in view of the fact that Mr. J. A. Gilmour’s recommenda tions for wage-increases were made after a thorough investigation into labour con ditions in the Cook Islands. Whether or not Islanders are members of a trade union should have little bearing on whether the New Zealand Government is willing to grant Mr. Gilmour’s recom mended increases.

The sudden passionate interest of New Zealand Labour in the trials and tribulations, fancied or real, of the Cook Islanders, is a matter of wonderment to the onlooker. There was certainly room for criticism of Cook Islands administration in the past, as there was room for criticism of most of the administrations of Pacific territories which, prior to the war ,’, a l° n £ a half-forgotten world of their own. But the mistakes of the past are now of course presented in a different light and used by left-wing “reformers as pegs upon which to hang political ideologies.

The political spotlight (and this is election year in New Zealand, one must remember) was first focused on the Cook Islands by the Cook Islands Progressive

Association, whose activities from the outset have had a striking resemblance to those of other Red Fascists who be devil the governments and obstruct the progress of every country to-day.

But admiration must be conceded Labour representatives Anderson and Baxter, who scored so neatly off the ciPA, which goes unrecognised by the New Zealand Government. When Messrs, Baxter and Anderson announced their in tention of going to the Cooks it was stated that their trip was to “investigate labour conditions and disputes.” The whole of their activities during the fort night they were in the group, however, seem to have been bent towards per suading the reluctant Cook Islanders to join a “real union.” The only difference

between the union they were weaned away from, and the NZ union, is that the Federation is beloved by the NZ‘ Socialist Government.

It would be interesting to know just how deeply individual adherents of New Zealand Labour and Communism are concerned in the welfare of the Cook Islanders who must be, as our corres pondent states, bewildered by the sudden interest of Party-politicians with axes to grind.

To be sure, the Cook Islands’ Maoris have gained for the moment —about 1/per day. But their leaders would be well advised to guide their people away from the role they are unintentionally assum ing—that of becoming mere pawns in contentions between political factions in New Zealand.

J. P. Rogers.

H. C. Smith.

T. J. O’Conner.