Territories' Dept

"According To Repor Discussions On [?] Future Of NZ Territories' Dept

From a NZ Correspondent

The possibility of New Zee Island Territories Department disbanded within the next few has been under discussion in ington, according to New Z< newspapers.

WITH self-g overnmem Western Samoa in sight a part of the department’s will soon cease to exist. Onl Cooks, Niue, the Tokelaus, ar Chathams, with a total popu of about 25,000 remain.

Most of the administrate these Groups can be handled 1( and the suggestion now appej be that the separate depart of these Islands administn would come under the guidar their counterparts in New Zei Thus public works, for exa would be under the overall s vision of the New Zealand De ment of Public Works. The would apply to education, h etc.

Presumably the senior office Island Territories Department i be absorbed into other depart or given posts in the Islands.

There are at present m seconded officers in the Islands are not attached to Island 1 tories Department but belon other departments, so no re tionary change would be invc A good deal of red tape migl fact be saved by removing a tories Department, which mainly as a liaison link betweei local administrations and the ous Government department) New Zealand.

Work Increased

The Cook Islands Depart! established in 1902, was the orij territorial department, but it only a branch of the Departi of Justice. When New Zealand over the mandate of Western Sa in 1919 separate External Affairs Island Territories departments formed.

To the care of this latter dep ment was added in 1925 the Toke —administered on behalf of United Kingdom (as part of GEIC) until 1949, when New I land took over these atolls enti In 1950 the Chathams were placed under Territories contr