Mr. Ward And The Cook
pp. 65-67 · Read in the full issue
Islanders
Letter to the Editor IN his article on “Frontier Forsaken,’’ in the “PIM,” the Rev. James E.
Cormack refers to Mr. Harold Ward as a “veritable bird of passage.” This seems to be an inconsistent “crack,” coming from a professed clergyman, more particularly so when this description des cribes Mr. Cormack himself more aptly than it does Mr. Ward. During the short time he has been in the Cook Islands, Mr. Cormack seems to have been almost continuously on the move, and he re cently returned from an extensive air tour covering several thousands of miles in the tropics, New Zealand and Aus tralia.
Mr. Ward’s position is pretty well known among his friends in the Cook Islands. As a result of war injuries he is totally and permanently disaoled, and his physical condition is such that he cannot stand the rigours of the New Zealand winter. In consequence, he spends several months of each year in the tropics, usually in the Cook Islands.
He travels at his own expense and de votes his time in a truly altruistic manner to the well-being of Natives and Europeans in the Group.
It is perfectly fair to state that few, if any, Europeans have ever been so con scientious in their efforts on behalf of Cook Islanders. His efforts have always been constructive, and have never been even remotely identified with any Lettish section. Mr. Ward’s achievements on be half of the ex-Servicemen, the school teachers, the labourers at Makatea, are
fine and lasting tributes to his altruistic efforts. We could do with many more “birds of passage” of his calibre.
I am, etc.,
Quarter Century Cook Is.
Auckland, 15/3/48.
EDITORIAL NOTE: Everyone will support our correspondent’s praise of good work done by Mr. Ward. It was just unfortunate that his work and ac tivities should have been seized upon and used as arguments by the compilers of a cock-eyed, anti-British book. It is our duty to attack and expose anti-British propaganda in the Islands, wherever we may find it; and if Mr. Ward, no matter how good his motives, should ally him self with our enemies, he cannot hope to escape criticism.