Cook Is. Fruit
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Recommendations of N.Z.
Delegation
From Our N.Z. Correspondent
Auckland, Sept. 9.
r pHE report of the Parliamentary delega tion which recently visited the Cook Group to inquire into fruit marketing, has been tabled in the House of Representa tives. The chief recommendations made by the delegation, which comprised Messrs. J. Robertson and C. L. Hunter (Labour), and S. G. Holland (National), are as follows: The whole of the fruit trade should be under the personal supervision of a Director of Agriculture or general mana ger, having full powers to carry out Go vernment policy and general control of the industry.
A citrus expert should be appointed. A long term citrus planting plan should also be inaugurated to be developed concur rently with the growing of crops on exist ing trees in order to avoid a disturbance of growers’ incomes.
A central packing shed and cool store should be established at Rarotonga to replace the existing seven district native packing sheds.
Negotiations should be entered into be tween the Government and N.Z. mer chants to dispose of the fruit at an “agreed fair price.” The improvement in the quality of the fruit exported, to gether with the improved shipping, should enable merchants to pay a higher price.
Such negotiations should include provi
sions for adequate payment for all useful service rendered and should result in a substantial reduction in th e retail price of fruit to the N.Z. public.
The report mentions that in view of the fact that a commission was inquiring into the system of marketing fruit in New Zealand, the delegation had conferred with it, and it was proposed at the conclusion of that inquiry to make a separate and a joint report covering proposals for the future disposal of Cook Island fruit in New Zealand.
The disparity in shipping charges on Cook Islands’ bananas to southern ports compared with the charges on Samoan and Niue bananas is commended to the Government for investigation.
The report will be considered by the Industries and Commerce committee of the House in framing its recommenda tions. on the two petitions from Rarotonga presented earlier in the year.