Streamlining
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
in the Cooks
Premier Albert Henry of tl Cook Islands is grappling wi Parkinson’s Law. He says that son government departments have becon larger than necessary and others ha l outgrown their usefulness.
His streamlining job has resulh in each of the six ministers beii given charge of a group of relate departments.
Geoffrey Henry has been allocate the Ministry of Financial Service which includes treasury, customs ai inland revenue; in charge of tl Ministry of Economic Services whie embraces agriculture, fisherie marketing and trading is Willia Estall; Tupui Henry retains his i ternal affairs portfolio in the Minist: of Social Services which will al: cover health, education, housing ar information services; The Ministry i Supportive Services, including tl portfolios of public works, electric! and harbour development, goes Inatio Akaruru; Tiakana Numunj is responsible for the Ministry « Outer Islands Affairs which al: covers the services of postal ai telecommunications, and the Minist of Justice and Land Development the responsibility of Apenera Short Premier Henry retains most of t previous portfolios, including extern affairs, legislative services, immigi tion, Public Service Commission ai the House of Ariki. In addition, I has also taken over the portfoli of police and tourism.
It all sounds like a good moi in the interests of economy for place that, in spite of having a prei ier and cabinet ministers, is small! in size than a New Zealand loc government borough and a great de smaller than an Australian shire.
But local residents are afraid th this, like every other move that hi gone before it, will mean high costs and a new appeal to NZ f! funds. New secretaries to t: ministry are to be appointed ai a wage rise is threatened fi government employees.
Perhaps Mr Henry is banking < instant tourism —following the ope ing this year of Rarotonga’s jet ai port—to get the country off tJ economic launching pad. It’s the thii best bet for making small countrf economically viable. The first tv being, of course, (1) oil wells; aj (2) an island composed entirely high-grade phosphatic rock.