holds New Zealand's hand

Changes, but Cooks still holds New Zealand's hand

A different relationship with New Zealand, foreshadowed some time ago by the Premier of the Cook Islands, Sir Albert Henry, was con firmed in the Speech from the Throne read at the ceremonial opening of the 18th session of the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly on February 5. The speech was read by Chief Judge Fraser, who was deputising for the High Commissioner.

The constitution will be amended to separate the dual responsibilities of the High Commissioner, who is Head of State and representative of New Zealand. The new Head of State will be appointed on the re commendation of the Cook Islands Government.

A New Zealand diplomatic mission will be set up in the Cook Islands, with the High Commissioner repre senting New Zealand. A Cook Islands office will be set up in Auckland to deal with promotional, public, trade and purchasing matters.

The two governments are explor

ing the possibility of setting up an industrial and development pro gramme, under which New Zealand firms, in partnership with Cook Islanders, may establish enterprises in the Cooks, using local produce and labour.

A new agency known as the National Development Corporation will manage some of the current trad ing departments, and will carry out a programme for new business de velopment through loan finance and management advisory assistance.

The government will continue its policy of “controlled tourism”, under which development is balanced and integrated with the rest of the econ omy. The object is to avoid the ills the tourist industry has brought to other countries.

An internal marketing division will be set up, under the control of the Marketing Board, to meet the needs of the consumer public, includ ing tourists. A central market will be established where locally-produced vegetables and sea-food may be sold at reasonable and controlled prices.

The new market will be in the cen tral packing shed in Avarua, where there is ample cool storage space.

Legislation will be introduced to set up a national provident fund for those who are not eligible to join the government superannuation fund.

There will also be a child benefit scheme to provide mothers with free milk and other essential foods to help them rear their young children.

In education, the question of rais-

ing the standard of primary schools is under review. A section of the University of the South Pacific will be established in Rarotonga. Pre parations are being made for a tech nical school in Rarotonga. A certi ficate of qualification to meet local requirements will be introduced.

When the Chief Judge retires, a travelling judge will be appointed to serve the Cook Islands and Niue.

The right of Cook Islanders to New Zealand citizenship will be preserved.

Gaoled In Cooks

Frederick Fry, a 28-year-old New Zealand grocer and market gardener, was sentenced to two years in gaol by the Chief Justice of the Cook Islands, Judge J. A. Fraser, for re ceiving stolen property, $ 14,000worth of watches stolen from the Cook Islands Trading Corporation’s duty-free shop at Avarua. He was released on bail later pending an ap peal against sentence to the Supreme Court in Auckland.

The bride, Mrs Ruth Moderate (nee Brough) signs the register after her marriage to Mr Neville Moderate at Government House, Port Moresby, while her husband and the officiating minister, the Rev Percy Chatterton, look on. The groom is senior photographer with the PNG Office of Information and the bride is a businesswoman. Victoria, Elizabeth, Ann and Samantha Critchley, daughters of the High Commissioner, daughters of the High Commissioner, Mr T. K. Critch ley, attended the bride. The couple honeymooned in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.