Self-Government

Niue Moves A Little Nearer To Internal Self-Government

From a Niue Correspondent

Politics and political develop

ment have been important on

Niue Island lately. On April 9,

the triennial election for mem bers of the Legislative Assembly was held.

VE of the electorates returned a single candidate unopposed, but nine electorates required polls. Most had only two nominated candidates, but two electorates had four can didates to choose from.

The new Assembly consists of: Arumaki Strickland (Alofi North), Togiatule Elesoni (Makefu), Phigia (Tuapa), Felesi (Namukulu), Liumaihetau (Toi), Limatau Poepata (Hikutavake), Pulefolau Talipule (Mutalau), Kaliatama (Lakepa), Falani Nogotau (Liku), Siakisoni (Hakupu), Talaiti (Vaiea), Ikimotu Paelo (Avatele), Peika Taiea (Tama kautoga), Robert Richard Rex (Alofi South).

Member System

It was an important election be cause the outgoing Assembly, voted ,n t° office in 1963, had approved in principle the creation of a member system.

Under this system members of the Executive Committee, chosen from •he elected Assembly members, will ?e given individual responsibility for Administration departments, instead exercising collective responsibility mder the chairmanship of the Resident Commissioner, as at present.

A Leader of Government Business o be recognised as the spokesman )f the elected members of the executive Committee and of the Assembly and to be deputy chairman )t both bodies, (and in the absence )r the Resident Commissioner to >reside over meetings) will also be hosen from the new Assembly.

The creation of a member system Fid the selection of a Leader of jovernment Business by the new Assembly are new moves in Niue’s rogress towards internal self-govern ient from its position as a depen ency of New Zealand.

In 1900 the British Government eclared a protectorate over Niue nd in 1901 the island was formally nnexed to New Zealand But it was not until 1915 that the

Cook Islands Act was passed, which, among many other things, set up an Island Council to advise the Resident Commissioner.

The councillors were nominated by the Resident Commissioner, and though it had power to make ordinances it could not impose taxes or Customs duties, borrow money or control expenditure. It was purely a legislative and advisory body.

The next major step was not taken until the passing of the Cook Islands Amendment Act of 1957. This abolished the old island council and established the Niue Island Assembly.

The Assembly had much wider powers than the Island Council, in cluding the power to deal with money raised locally. It was still appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand, but nomination of members was decided by popular vote. In 1960 the first election by secret ballot was held.

In 1962, in a further move, four new plans for constitutional develop ment were put to the Niue Island Assembly through the Resident Com missioner. These were the same as those put to the Cook Islands As sembly at Rarotonga, and were: • Complete independence. • Complete integration with New Zealand.

• A federation of Polynesia. • Internal self-government.

The Niue Island Assembly un animously chose internal self-govern ment and a timetable to move Niue towards this was set out.

But there was apprehension by Niue that the programme was too ambitious and the Assembly decided in 1964 that they would ask New Zealand to arrange for experts in constitutional matters to visit Niue to explain, discuss, and after hearing

the views of the public and Assembly, to make recommendations as to the wisest course of action.

So in January, 1965, Mr. J. M.

McEwen, Secretary of Island Ter ritories, and Professor C. C. Aikman, Professor of Constitutional Law at Victoria University, Wellington, went to Niue.

They subsequently decided that the proposals for a fixed timetable should be abandoned. They recom mended, instead, that the immediate concern be confined to the next step to be taken to give Niue’s elected representatives more control over and responsibility for their own local affairs. The Assembly accepted these proposals and decided on the creation of a member system.

The creation of a member system could be the first step towards the establishment of cabinet government, but it does not necessarily commit Niue to cabinet government.

It is a step along the road towards eventual self-government, but any further steps will be a matter for the people to decide.

The newly-elected Assembly will not immediately consider the im plementation of any changes beyond the introduction of the member system and a few other minor points.