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Mr. Henry Speaks

The following letter from Mr. Albert Henry appeared in the Auckland “Star” on August 2. An article on the recent activities of the CIPA appears elsewhere in this issue.

I WAS astonished to read the opinions on the Cook Islands Progressive Asso ciation reported in your issue of July 26. It is a pity that your informant did not know the facts before making wild statements about “the Communistic infiltration of the Cook Islands Pro gressive Association.” This association is an economic and cultural organisation and does not, as such, hold any political doctrines or beliefs. All classes of re sponsible Cook Islanders are represented in its membership, including many chieftains who, like most of its members, neither in cultural matters nor economic interest favour the Communistic doctrine or in fact know what it is or anything about it. The statement made that sections of the association try to instil a suspicion and hatred of white people in the natives is ridiculous. There were some white people who wished to take charge of the association, but the natives desired to run their own association themselves. There is no justification whatever for suggesting that there is any hatred of white people in the Cook Islands. Again, far from its activities com ing to an end, as suggested, the associa tion is now making only a beginning of its work and has already approached the Government to obtain legislative assist ance to form a Producers’ Co-operative Society to enable the natives to market their produce. Unfortunately, it is only too easy to spread wrong impressions

A. R. Henry

Trade Representative, Cook Islands Progressive Assn.

Production of Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited, New Guinea, for -July was 10,151 oz - fine gold from 1,027,000 cubic yards treated.