Rarotongan Temporary

Makea-Ship

From a Special Correspondent WHILE British law has long recognised the fact that the Heiress-presumptive to the Throne is deemed of age and competent to succeed at 18. that right is denied to the legal successor of the Makea Nui Ariki of Rarotonga.

The New Zealand Government, curi ously, has kept silent on a recent decision by the Native Land Court of the Cook Islands respecting the appointment of the new Makea, until prodded for informa tion by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, a member of the Opposition.

The last Makea, Takau (the elder daughter of Makea Tinirau), died in September of last year, and the office was vacant until recently. It has been awarded by the Court to her sister, Teremoana (Mrs. Cowan), and the in stallation of the latter, it is known, has taken place in Rarotonga.

Mr. Broadfoot asked whether Mrs.

Cowan’s appointment was for life, or merely temporary: also whether the rights of succession of the daughter of Takau and the late Lt.-Colonel Tiwi Love <the first Maori commander of the Maori Battalion) had been preserved.

Mokoroa, the eldest of Takau’s daughters, who was educated in New Zea land with her father’s family, is now 18 years old.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), who is also Minister in charge of Island Ter ritories, read the judgment of the Court delivered on May 3, that: “The title goes to Teremoana, and she will hold office until Mokoroa attains the age of 21 years.

Mokoroa is now 18 years of age, and Teremoana will thus hold office, in the first instance, for a period of three years, and she will continue to hold office until Mokoroa can show that she is ready to take over the duties of Makea Nui Ariki.”

“It will be seen, therefore,” Mr. Fraser added, "that the judgment preserves the right of succession to the eldest daughter of the late Makea Nui Ariki Takau, pro vided she is competent.”

Who is to decide whether Mokoroa, on reaching 21 years, is competent? Presum ably, she will have to go to the Cook Islands Court and establish her compet ency. The law of Rarotonga, in this re gard is certainly open to criticism.

Mokoroa has been carefully reared and educated by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Hapi Love, of Petone, who are highly respected members of the Maori race, and there should not be any doubt as to her “competency” to succeed her mother.