Ruling on gifts opens up a new era
By Charles Pitt, Political Editor

John Baxter believes Chief Justice David Williams’s decision to dismiss his petition against sitting MP Terepai Maoate Jnr opens up a new era in Cook Islands politics.
Baxter was Cook Islands Party candidate in the 26 September general election for the Amuri-Ureia seat in Aitutaki.
“The decision,” Baxter told the Times on Thursday morning, “means a candidate can give people things as long as they say - don’t vote for me. And base their reasons on family tradition or charity work.”
Of the five allegations in his petition against Maoate Jnr, Baxter said Maoate Jnr admitted in four cases to providing electors with items such as cash and fish.
The fifth allegation said Baxter was not proven as it involved an exchange of items. Apparently in that case, Maoate Jnr gave bread to a family and in exchange they gave Maoate Jnr some pork.
Baxter said Maoate’s defence was that it was a tradition in his family from his grandfather to give fish away and do charitable work.
However, Baxter said Maoate should not be doing this during election time. Baxter also said Maoate did not ask people to vote for him.
DROPPED
Baxter said the cross petitions filed against him by Maoate Jnr were baseless and were dropped.
In conclusion, Baxter said he feels happy, he has done his part. He said his case was proved but the Chief Justice did not rule in his favour.
He said he had no hard feelings and is prepared to run again.
The final count for the seat was 214 to the Democratic Party’s Maoate Jnr and 164 to the CIP’s Baxter.

Headlines : Times 175
- WHAT A MESS
- Surprise resort baby born at Rarotongan
- Carlson makes quick Emergency start
- Apia, here comes Our Beautiful Pacific
- Pacific Blue gets new plane options for here
- New dates for hotel opening
- Why Chief Justice dismissed petition
- Ring the bell, lots of boxing planned
- A boring day off for Maara Vaiimene?
- Cath Kara call in
- Wilkie tells of his Fiji mission
- Ruling on gifts opens up a new era
- Metua Rakei learns to live

Headlines : Times 174
- PM heads back to Fiji
- Rarotonga witnesses give Vaipae evidence
- Cassey carries on
- Avatiu adds up to Peto
- Mauke excavator not factor in election
-Poly Blue offering $100 Sydney-Apia
- All Blacks launch Air New Zealand’s new ‘Round the World’ services
- How Marjorie Crocombe ran into Australian style apartheid
- RARO CALLING
- Shona named Miss South Pacific judge