Steady Increase

Cook Islands Native Population

A STEADY natural increase in the native populations and an excess of Government revenue over expenditure are strikingly satisfactory conditions disclosed in the annual report of the Cook Islands and Niue Administrations for the year ended March 31, 1930, made by the New Zealand Minister for the Cook Islands (Hon. A. T.

Ngata). The Rarotonga Treasury showed an excess of revenue over expenditure amounting to £1,287 and the Niue revenue Treasury an excess of £2,203.

The motor vessel Maui Pomare, provided and managed by the New Zealand Government, has carried out a satisfactory fruit trade with the islands. She has given to Niue the first regular service and has opened up a banana trade which the natives have been eager to exploit. The vessel has been the means also of creating a valuable banana trade between New Zealand and Samoa.

During the year 106,187 cases of oranges and other citrus fruits, 51,026 cases of bananas and 52,685 cases of tomatoes were exported to New Zealand from the Cook Islands. The export of copra totalled 2.020 tons. The value of exports up to December 31, 1929, was £124,486 and imports £106,835, showing an excess of exports of £17,651. For the previous year the figures were, exports £133,051; imports £117,639.

Imports for the year 1929 for Niue Island totalled £19,109, as against £18,637 for 1928. Exports amounted to £22,206, as against £20,938 for 1928. Of this amount £13,449 went to New Zealand and the balance to the United Kingdom. Western Samoa. Australia, Fiji, American Samoa and Hawaii. ———