2574

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 83

Regulations under the Cook Islands Act, 1915, relating to the Engagement of Native Labour in the Cook Islands for Employment beyond the Limits of the Cook Islands.

LIVERPOOL, Governor.

ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Government House at Wellington, this twenty-fourth day of July, 1916.

Present:

His Excellency the Governor in Council.

IN pursuance of the power and authority conferred by the Cook Islands Act, 1915, His Excellency the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, doth hereby make the following regulations under and for the purposes of the said Act.

REGULATIONS.

1. It shall not be lawful for the master of any ship, or for any person, company, or firm, to engage any native in the Cook Islands to labour in any island or place beyond the limits of the Cook Islands, without having first obtained from the Resident Commissioner permission so to do.

2. Every such ship, before taking on board any native from the Island of Niue under any such engagement, shall first call at the Port of Alofi (Island of Niue); and every such ship, before taking on board any native from any of the Cook Islands other than the Island of Niue, shall first call at the Port of Avarua (Island of Rarotonga).

3. Every ship, on returning to the Island of Niue any native engaged as aforesaid at the Island of Niue, shall first call at the Port of Alofi (Island of Niue); and every ship, before returning any native engaged as aforesaid to the island whence such native was so engaged (other than the Island of Niue), shall first call at the Port of Avarua (Island of Rarotonga); provided that the Minister for the Cook Islands may in his discretion dispense with such requirements under this and the preceding clause.

4. Any native desiring to engage himself as aforesaid shall attend before the Resident Commissioner, or some officer appointed by him, or before a Resident Agent, who shall satisfy himself that such native is above the age of sixteen years, is apparently in good health, and, if married, has made adequate provision for the maintenance of his family, and that such native fully understands the terms and conditions under which he is engaging himself.

5. The master of the ship, or the duly authorized agent of the person, company, or firm seeking to engage any native as aforesaid, and the said native shall, at the time of such engagement, in the presence of the Resident Commissioner, or of some officer authorized by him, or in the presence of any Resident Agent, sign an agreement in the form of the Schedule hereto.

6. At the time of such engagement the master of the ship, or such duly authorized agent, may pay to such native not exceeding one month's wages in advance. Thereafter no payment shall be made to any native so engaged of any sum exceeding at the rate of £1 per calendar month. The balance of wages accrued due shall at the completion of his engagement be paid to such native in the presence of the Resident Commissioner, or of some officer appointed by him, or of a Resident Agent at the island from whence such native was engaged.

7. The master of the ship, or the duly authorized agent of the said person, company, or firm, shall at the time of such engagement deposit with the Resident Commissioner such guarantee for the payment of wages and due observance of the terms of the agreement entered into as the said Resident Commissioner may require.

8. The penalty for the breach of any of these regulations shall be a sum not exceeding £50, and in default of payment the offender may be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for any term not exceeding three months.

SCHEDULE.

This agreement, made this __ day of __, 191, between __ (hereinafter referred to as “the employer”), of the