Rarotonga’S

Woes

Politicians’ Promises and the New Steamer Service

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Feb. 12.

THE Resident Commissioner, Judge H. F. Ayson, C.M.G., leaves by the Matua tomorrow for New Zealand where he is expected to remain at least a month.

Among the many matters which will occupy his attention there is the pro posed erection of a combined cold stor age plant and central packing-shed for the Island’s fruit crop, a project which is now before the Government.

Despite the astonishing fulsome delega tion who recently visited the Cook Group, and the no less amazing panegyrics with which they regaled Parliament on their return to the Dominion, the fruit in dustry here remains in exactly the same parlous condition as it was prior to their arrival last July.

The ability to say beautiful things beautifully, and in such a manner that any or no meaning at all may be at tached to them, seems an outstanding quality of present-day politicians. With fine phrases and an appropriately fruity delivery, the Parliamentary Committee succeeded in painting the local future in rainbow hues, without once making any definite statement that the sombre and drab grey of previous Governments would not be again used when it actu ally came to getting on with the job.

The Prime Minister —to quote Hansard —promised that action would be under taken before Christmas. It is already the middle of February.

The long-looked-forward-to service by the Matua has so far proved of less bene fit than that provided by the old mail vessels which, at least, had the advan tage of being a direct one, whereas the new itinerary includes three other ports of call after leaving Rarotonga.

Furthermore, shipments from here by the Matua arrive simultaneously in Auck land with fruit, brought on the same ship, from Samoa and Fiji. Distribution, too, instead of being, as formerly, fairly evenly spread between Wellington and Auckland, is now centralised in the latter to the benefit of those interests to whom a glut on the market means a peculiarly juicy killing.

Obviously, something will have to be be done about this, unless the fruit in dustry of the Cook Islands is to sink yet lower. That, in view of the depths to which it has already sunk, would be ruinous to those engaged in it at this end. In 1924, orange exports totalled 176,369, and bananas 78,453 cases. In 1935 these had shrivelled to 48,260 and 22,539 cases respectively.

And this in the face of the Cook Islands having been, and being, admini

stered by officials who, to quote the honourable member for Christchurch North, are marvellous people, carrying on uncomplainingly on salaries not com mensurate with their work. Departmental experts and Resident Agents who have sacrificed profitable careers to render valuable service to the Dominion . . . delightful people one and all, moving gracefully and usefully among a native race whose state of bliss is beyond des cription—but is due largely to the fine free-handed generosity of a trading ele ment which has maintained the highest traditions of good British commercialism.

From this effusion one might infer that Mr. Holland found the Cook Islands the last hiding-place on earth where

brotherly love and human felicity meet on a common age of material prosperity.

Unfortunately for his Utopian dreams, Mr. Holland spent only a month on Raro tonga and, even in politicians, a little knowledge is a dangerous possession.