Enlivens Cook
pp. 12-13 · Read in the full issue
Constitution Bill Passed
Residence Issue
Islands Debate
Some bitter exchanges on the controversial clause on resi dential qualifications for election candidates enlivened an other wise dull debate on the Cook Islands Constitution Bill in the Cook Islands Legislative As
sembly in September.
THE bill, which provides a con stitution for the Cook Islands after they achieve internal self government next year, was intro duced simultaneously in the Cook Islands Assembly and New Zealand Parliament on August 11. (PIM, Sept., p. 20).
The Cook Islands Assembly made some amendments before passing the bill, but these will not necessarily become part of the constitution, as the NZ Parliament, which has yet to debate the bill, will have the final say.
However, the NZ Parliament will be guided by the views of the Cook Islands Assembly and also by the findings of a NZ parliamentary select committee which has been set up to hear evidence on constitutional matters.
Delegation
A four-member delegation from the Cook Islands arrived in Wellington on September 19 to give evidence before the select com mittee.
The main amendments to the Constitution Bill passed by the Cook Islands Assembly were that: • Two arikis (high chiefs), one from Rarotonga and one from the outer islands, should be chosen to sit with the New Zealand High Commissioner to represent the Queen. The term of their appoint ment would be four years and they would be eligible for reappointment. (The original proposal was that a High Commissioner only represent the Queen). • All appointments to the Cook Islands Public Service should be in the hands of the Secretary to the Government (who will be known as Secretary to the Premier’s Depart ment), without any statutory require ment to consult the Cabinet. (This
is seen as an indication that the Assembly wants no political control 3f the Public Service).
A proposed amendment to the flause on residential qualifications for :andidates in Legislative Assembly flections was defeated by 16 votes ;o 3. The amendment sought to nake the residential qualification for 3ook Islands-born candidates three nonths instead of three years.
Petition The amendment was defeated iespite: • The presentation of a 2,280- ;ignature petition to the Assembly ;eeking a residential qualification of hree months. • A statement to the Assembly >y a New Zealand Government re )resentative, Mr. L. Davis, that the VZ Government believed the Cook slanders were mature enough not 0 have to “legislate against anybody :oming back and standing for the Assembly,” and that they could decide or themselves at the elections whether 1 person should be elected or not.
Mr. Julian Dashwood, who moved he amendment to the residence lause, said that no one would care vhether the qualification period was 10 days or 300 years if it were not or Mr. Albert Henry, the Aitutaki >orn political leader who recently eturned to the Cook Islands after icarly 20 years in New Zealand.
He added that some members eemed more concerned with “pre erving their own plums than filling he basket with fresh fruit.”
Several members later attacked At. Henry, describing him as a elfish man, a man having no in erests in the Cook Islands, and a aan not having “guts enough to tay” in the Cook Islands when times veve hard.
Mr. Dashwood defended Mr. lenry against these attacks.
“I myself should describe Mr.
Albert Henry as a dedicated man,” ie said. “I should just like to remind lembers of the recent honour which tie New Zealand Government paid iim in appointing him a justice of tie peace. That is not something hat is done lightly.”
Mr. T. Roi, member for Raro anga, who presented the petition to tie Assembly, warned members that tiere would be “some misunder tanding or revolution” unless the mendment were accepted “because i the hearts of the people, they are ot in agreement with this section.”
The two members for Mangaia fld the Assembly that they had put lie residence issue to their electors, nd they had voted in favour of the liree-year residential qualification.