Mr. Webb’s Last Word

Report to NZ: Mr. Webb’s Last Word on Cook Is.

RESIDENTS of the Cook Islands, who described NZ Territory Minister Webb’s visit to the Group in August as a “waste of time,” may be agreeably surprised at the report and recommendations he recently made to the New Zealand Parliament. They will be interested to see whether they are acted upon, or filed away out of

sight.

Since his August trip, Mr. Webb has been made High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. It is understood that he will not be leaving for the UK until after the NZ November elections.

Some of the points he made are: o There has been some valid criticism of New Zealand’s adminis tration of the Group, and some remedial action is necessary. • Residents feel a degree of un certainty in their future, due in part to rapid expansion of the Admin istrative staff since the war, caus ing it to become more impersonal and not sufficiently alive to the

necessity of consulting the people and explaining Government activ ities and plans. • Every means must be sought to increase the participation of the Islanders in the Executive and Legis lative sides of local government. • The New Zealand Government has been unable to interest any private concern in a satisfactory shipping service from NZ, to replace

the aged and expensive Maui Pomare. Though at present adequate, she soon will not be capable of handling the citrus crop. None the-less, the only short-term solu tion is to keep her in service while continuing negotiations. • Although some differed, the Minister was inclined to believe that, when the Cool Store at Raro tonga is complete, the NZ vessel

should be able to load there, in stead of calling at individual islands.

He believed that this would be practicable if private owners could be induced to operate small re frigerated inter-island vessels. • The subsidy at present being paid to TEAL to call at Aitutaki might be more profitably diverted to shipping, which would serve all islands instead of only one which was not even the administrative centre. • No one can be in a position to make suggestions on plans for rais ing living standards by development of alternative crops, etc., until economic and social studies cover ing population and migration trends, available resources, land tenure, and social customs, have been made. (The report did not say why they have not been made long ago, but, as food for thought, a table is given showing peak exports of commod ities in past years. It shows that bananas reached an export figure of 111,780 cases one year, as against 99 last year; oranges 138,857 cases as against 32,429; orange juice, 20,214 gallons as against nil; lime juice, 57,255 gallons as against nil; mandarins 5,820 cases as against 1,304; grape-fruit 3,544 as against 421. Only tomato and pineapple exports have increased). • The Minister agrees with Mr.

H. E. Maude’s report on co-opera tives, in that they should be en couraged and fostered; it is hoped that a co-operatives officer will be appointed “in the near future.’’ • The 1939 amendment to the New Zealand taxation laws, making them apply fully to the Cooks, is “ill-conceived.” The Cook Islands Legislative Council is now investi gating other forms of taxation and its recommendations should receive Government consideration. • In line with policy in Western Samoa, consideration might be given to the appointment of Maori Judges, to handle only minor offences at first. • A request by the people that a New Zealand MP attend every session of the Cooks LegCo has been agreed upon. The Minister believes that eventually the Cook Islands will need direct representation in the NZ Parliament but that time is not yet. • The Minister, quoting from a ■eport by Messrs. Hunn and Graham, Df the Public Service Commission, which recently studied problems in the Cooks, said that solutions had been offered which will cost New Zealand money. These included a single salary scale, dependent only Dn qualifications and not on race, md the employment wherever pos sible, of local Maoris.

Selected Fijian, Indian and Euro- Dean women will be trained as ieaconesses for special service in ;he Methodist Church of Fiji. The ieaconnesses will assist in pastoral iuties in certain circuits.