or something

Towards self government, or something

Niue Islanders in September voted overwhelmingly in favour of self government in free association with New Zealand. About the time of the referendum, Cook Islands Premier, Sir Albert Henry, did a complete somersault and said he would hold an election in January on integration vith New Zealand. Sir Albert, it will ae recalled, just before going to the -aw of the Sea conference at Caracas, said he would soon be look ng for full indepedence for the I'ooks.

About 1,600 Niueans went to the >olls. The vote was almost two to )ne in favour of self-government and 'ree association. Niue Islanders living n New Zealand and Australia, did lot get a vote. Niueans in NZ out lumber Niueans on their own island, fhe United Nations sent a team of hree to Niue to observe the referen lum.

Now that the referendum has been :arried, the Niue Assembly will make aws for the island. The NZ Parlia nent will only legislate on request rom the Niue Assembly. Niueans, jowever, will retain NZ citizenship.

Z will continue to be responsible or Niue’s foreign affairs and defence nterests, and will continue economic ind administrative assistance.

In some circles in New Zealand, lowever, the referendum was re ;arded as something of a farce. It vas a straight-out vote, for or against he new constitution, with, presum ibly, a status quo if the “noes” had von. Many felt that an alternative— ntegration with New Zealand—might lave carried the day.

Sir Albert Henry, who went to 4Z for the funeral of Mr Norman Cirk, said islanders in NZ were con used about the Cook Islands’ consti tution. There was much misunder tanding about the government’s tc-1965 decision for self-government.

“I am giving every Cook Islander ri the Cook Islands the right to vote n the issue of self-government or itegration with New Zealand,” he aid. “I promised our people living i New Zealand I would prepare the ountry immediately on my return or a snap election to decide this isue.” • The New Hebrides had a popu ation of 91,212 at December 31, 973, according to an estimate by the Condominium Bureau of Census and tatistics.

PNG's Chief Minister, Mr Michael Somare, continuing his drive to revive and consoli date the country's ancient cultural customs, officially opened the Gogodala Cultural Centre at Balimo in the Western District at the beginning of September. He underlined the importance of the National Cultural Council's work at village level which "would certainly create or regenerate the awareness in the people to preserve and have pride in their work". Some people, who had sold artifacts to foreign dealers had not been aware of the rich value in their culture, he said. The Gogodala Long Haus was a great cultural heritage of the Balimo people.