New Resident Agent
p. 18 · Read in the full issue
For Mangaia
From Our Own Correspondent
Mangaia. Nov. 15.
THE appointment of Major W. H. Ryan, late of the NZ Public Works Dept, and the NZEF. to the nosition of Resident Agent of this island, marks a new step in administrative selection.
Mr. Ryan, who has had a distinguished military career, will be the first Army officer to hold the post, generally con ceded bv Cl officials to be a difficult one, calling for marked Qualities of leadership and control.
Mangaia has an Island Council of im mense conservatism and obstinate ad herence to old-time Maori customs.
In the past there has not always been co-©Deration with the Administration. It will be recalled that Mangaia alone, of the Cook Group, has never ceded its land for survey; and the various innovations introduced bv the IMD for alleged better ment of fruit-export have also not been adopted here by reason of the chiefly conservatism referred to. which vetos pHomots to establish gassing-sheds, etc.
To date, no Resident Agent has been able to make a dent in this obstinate adherence to “old-time” ways, the Is land Council being as autocratic as its powers are unlimited.
The pre-eminence here of the CIPA may also have some effect in the shaping of our new RA’s policy, which at the out set is likely to require much tact and dip lomacy.