European Electors' Meeting in Rarotonga

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Nov. 17.

A European electors’ meeting was held in Rarotonga on November 7. It was convened by the European member for the Legislative Council. Mr.

Wm. H. Watson, for the purpose of dis cussing those matters which European residents wished to be placed before the Council which was then in session.

First matter under discussion was the proposal that -the four European ex officio members on the Legislative Coun cil should be removed.

According to Mr. Watson, the native members felt overwhelmed by the extra weight given the European side by these four officials (Chief Medical Officer, the Director of Agriculture, Director of Edu

cation, and the head of the Treasury Department). Mr. Watson said that he strojigly supported native members in

this view. These four officials should be on call whenever data was required from their particular departments, but their presence on the actual Council was not really necessary.

Mr. S. Kingan supported Mr. Watson but the majority of those present appeared to be in Deposition to the suggestion that they be'removed. Mr. W. Graham said he thought the views of Mr.

Watson pre-supposed a European bloc in voting strength, regardless of the merits of the case, and he felt that the matter could wait until such a situation arose.

Mr. J. Morgan said that the govern ment had already made it clear that it was necessary to hold a guiding rein until such time as the native leaders proved themselves capable of carrying greater responsibilities. Through the new Legis lative Council they were being ‘ given a greater share of the burden and as they proved themselves capable of bearing it so they would be given an increasing share in the responsibilities and adminis tration of their own islands. The matter could not be rushed at this stage, (Following this meeting, however, this matter was put to the vote in the Legis lative Council itself and a majority voted for the removal of the four ex-officio members.)

Election of European Member

MR. L. TRENN moved that the meeting affirm its belief that the European member of the Rarotonga Island Council be automatically the European member on the Legislative Council.

It was understood that this was origin ally intended, but it had somehow ap peared in the regulations that the Euro pean member on the Legislative Council had to be elected by the native members of the Island Council. Under these cir cumstances there was a strong danger of European residents not having a repre sentative on the Legislative Council.

Mr. Trenn’s motion received the sup port of the meeting.

All present agreed that a better water service was one of the most pressing needs of the community.

Mr. L. Cook urged that if there was to be a new water service a good supply should be given along the inland road.

If the people were to be urged “back to the land” they should be encouraged to build their homes on their plantations.

A good water supply would be a great in centive.

Mr. Trenn emphasised the need for improvements to all back roads as a means to opening up land and relieving the congested conditions in Avarua.

Public Health

MR. WATSON said that public health was his foremost interest. It was his intention to press for a separate

health department, with a health officer who would be solely concerned with such matters as housing, water, food sales, mosquito control, etc.

Mr. Reid drew a parallel between the rate of TB and the standard of living, showing that a low standard resulted in a high incidence of TB. He urged that some restriction should be placed on the erection of closely grouped, ramshackle buildings which fostered the disease.

Mr. Cook said that the influx of outer islanders, who lack land and belongings in Rarotonga, had much to do with the destitution one saw in some quarters and had also contributed to the crime com mitted on the island. These people were mainly responsible for the unhealthy col lection of ramshackle huts clustered round the main settlement.

Mr. J. H. Webb said that a simple answer to the housing-health problem would be to return the outer islanders to their own islands, where they would have their own land and more space.

Mr. R. Powell, however, defended the outer islanders. While agreeing that something should be done about the housing problem he did not agree with those people who considered them a use less lot of tramps, battening upon the Rarotongans. Generally speaking, the Rarotongans were an indolent type, not keen on work. The more hardy islanders were the workers, and provided much of the labour on the island. They were also practically the only fishermen on the island, even if they only fished for their own families.

Building houses of native materials was not so cheap as some people imagined owing to the short life of these perish able materials. Mr. Powell then ad vanced a suggestion that a cheap and plentiful permanent building material might be obtained by establishing a brick field. There were deposits of suitable clay for making bricks and tiles in Rarotonga.

Mr. ]&. Baker (Director of Agriculture), mentioned the possibilities of growing timber on the open hills that would assist in reforestation and provide building timber. Experiments were already in progress. He described the experimental farm which it is hoped to establish shortly. The plan is to introduce new economic and nutritious foods.

Mr. Morgan expressed the hope that some scheme of native land development might be introduced which would restore the economy and health of the people.

He cited the great improvements both in productivity and the health of the Maori people under the Government Native Land Scheme in NZ. There was also a need for development in the outer islands in other fruits besides oranges.

Mr. Trenn proposed a subsidy on dried milk to encourage the consumption of this vital food. All school children were al ready receiving a daily free milk ration but it would be a good thing to encourage everyone to drink milk for the sake of health.

The dusty state of Rarotonga’s roads was also discussed. Mr. Powell suggested that an estimate be obtained of the cost of sealing the road through the main settlement of Avarau with oil as had been carried out with success in New Zea land.

News-Sheet and Broadcasting

MR, TRENN said he was of the opinion that some sort of regular govern ment-subsidised newspaper or news-sheet should be produced. This need was urgent. There was plenty of propaganda in circulation to let the people know what was not being- done, but there was no means of countering this by telling them what was being done for them or what future plans were be ing made for their welfare.

The meeting was unanimously in agree ment with this proposal.

The daily news bulletin to the outer islands was, it was agreed, totally inade

quate. The jumble of overseas news on the sheet was of no interest whatever to the native population and it was usually so badly written that the one or two Europeans in the outer communities usually had the greatest difficulty in de ciphering it. A bulletin of local news would be more sensible and very welcome.

The proposal to establish an island broadcasting station was also enthusias tically supported by the whole assembly.

Mr. S. Kingan, who is an authority on

the subject, said that he already had in service, a transmitter that would be quite suitable for the purpose and that he would be glad to co-operate. Loud speakers could be installed in the village halls on the outer islands. The initial ex pense and upkeep would not be heavy.

After considerable discussion on this subject it was agreed that the newspaper should come first; the broadcasting idea might follow later.

IT was agreed that the meeting had been useful and it was hoped that such meetings might be held at regular intervals.

Mr. Watson promised that the electors would be kept informed on the progress of the Legislative Council and at its con clusion a public meeting would be held to submit a report to European electors.