New Zealanders for

the Cooks CI Maoris for NZ

BITTER resentment of New Zea land policy in the Cook Islands has been expressed recently by D.I. residents arriving in NZ.

According to these critics, Raro ;onga is New Zealand’s “cushiest re servation for Public Servants.”

Chief target of their abuse is the mpressive Public Works Depot con structed miles round the coast from she main settlement, which, they say, is out of all proportion to the requirements of the Cook Islands at the present stage of economic ievelopment. While money is aoured into this great installation, ;he roads of the island are allowed ;o deteriorate into their worst con dition for many years.

It is alleged that vast sums of noney are being poured into nagnificent houses for the flood of veil-paid public servants who come n from New Zealand. Most of the unds set aside for the administra ion of the group are now going owards the housing and mainten ince of this “flock of excursionists,” lalf of whom could be replaced by ar less expensive, local men.

The critics point out that the pick

of the local native artisans —or at least those with ambition —are leav ing the Group for New Zealand, there to rapidly fit themselves into jobs calling for greater skill and responsibility than many jobs in the Cooks which are currently being filled by technicians brought at great expense from New Zealand.

While money is lavished on the Cl Public Works Department, the Education Department, which is the key to many of the Cook Islands manpower problems, is made to

suffer financially, local residents point out. A year ago there was post-primary education up to the fourth year, and senior students were reaching a reasonably high standard; to-day there are but two years of post-primary education.

Little wonder, the critics say, that every Islander with any gumption—for the sake of his chil dren and for his own sake—is get ting out of the islands fast and abandoning it to its flock of New Zealand public servants.