Shock Death In

The Cooks

Former police chief, and strong man of the Cook Islands opposition Demo cratic Party Tangata Nekeare, was found dead in his bed on the morning of Novem ber 6, in Rarotonga, pre sumably of a heart attack, although no post mortem was held. He had been out all the previous day talking with people and showed no sign of illness (Obituary p 123).

He was aged only 32.

Leader of the Democratic Party, Dr Tom Davis arrived in Rarotonga midnight Nov. 14, having sailed his yacht Torea from California. In his absence, the date of resump tion of the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly had been brought forward from November to October 20, with the result that Dr Davis was liable to forfeit his seat for being more than two weeks late for the session.

An engine breakdown con tributed to delay in Dr Davis' arrival, and a special dispen sation was obtained for him by Premier Albert Henry, enabling him to keep his seat. Dr Davis was given a warm welcome by a crowd of some hundreds.

During Dr Davis' absence.

Cook Islanders had gone to the polls on October 17 for the second time in six months. Voting this time was to elect representatives to the Island and District Coun cils. In Rarotonga, all 10 seats were won by Premier Albert Henry's Cook Islands Party. According to pro visional results, out of 13,105 people who voted, 7,162 voted CIP, the re mainder supporting the op position Democratic Party.