In Cooks' Elections

Breakaways Seek Power

Prom a Rarotonga correspondent With the general elections due to be held on May 1, Rarotonga

was gripped by campaign fever

in April. Numerous political

meetings were held both by the

party in power—Albert Henry’s

Cook Islands Party—and the United Cook Islanders, formed

only in February.

The new party made its policy on April 8. Nobody could argue with the planks of the platform. The test will be in whether they can be achieved. They are: • To govern the Cook Islands in a democratic way by carrying out the wishes of the people for the benefit of the people. • To restore the pride of the Cook Islands people. • To work more closely with New Zealand and develop mutual respect as partners. • To raise the standard of living of all the people. • To develop the economic in dependence of the Cook Islands. • To effect a more even distribu tion of wealth between islands and people of the Cook Islands.

Prominent candidates in the UCI are Mr, Mana Strickland and Dr.

Manea Tamarua. Both men were once ardent supporters of the Cooks Islands Party, led by Mr. Henry, the Cook Islands’ Premier.

Both attained Cabinet rank, and both resigned from the Cabinet and from the Cook Islands Party, but their resignations were spaced two years apart and were completely in dependent.

Dr. Tamarua resigned in May, 1966, because he was dissatisfied with the way in which his government handled the then current Dashwood scandal.

Mr. R. J. Dashwood, then Minister of Police, was facing charges of cor ruption concerning stamp deals with certain firms.

Resigned in March

Mr. Mana Strickland resigned from his post of Minister of Education only on March 29. He believes that the Cook Islands Party Government failed to keep its election promises.

He explained his views in full in a paper he presented to the congress

of the Australian New Zealand Asso ciation for the Advancement of Science, in Christchurch, NZ, in January (P/M, Apr., p. 57).

At a meeting held in Matavera village, Rarotonga, on the same day that their platform and policy were made public, candidates of the UCI elaborated.

Speaking on the UCl’s determina tion to “restore the pride of the Cook Islands’ people” Mr. Mana Strick land said that the powers of the Ariki (High Chiefs) had not been re stored under self-government and that the party wanted to see the Ariki stand on their own feel.

The UCI policy was that the party would set up the House of Ariki as an Upper House so that it could

advise the government on all legislai tion, and if necessary review it.

The party’s plans for achievinj economic independence included thi following main points;— A research scientist would be asket to advise on the best way of increas ing agricultural production; existinj citrus blocks would be upgraded will the aim of doubling production with in three years, and new plots wouh be estabished; a marketing authority would be established in Aitutaki Atiu, Mauke and Mangaia to bu] citrus at the wharfside; talks wouU be begun to obtain better prices fo produce in NZ and at the Island Foods factory; cheaper fruit case would be investigated; efforts woul( be made to increase copra produc tion by raising yields and beginninj a long term replanting programme a regular shipping service to the oute: islands would be provided; a copn marketing authority would be estab lished.