Gluts And Famines

New System of Marketing Cook Is. Fruit

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rarotonga, March 12.

INTERVIEWED by your correspondent on his return last month from New Zealand, Captain J. D. Campbell, Managing Director of the Cook Islands Native Association and a prominent figure in the “cabals” of former Resident Commissioner F. W. Platts, C.M.G., made the following observations on current affairs:— “Control by the Government of the collection and marketing of C.I. fruit should do away with the costly methods at present in operation, and which result in the market being at one time glutted, while at another in a shortage, with cor responding peak prices, very little of which reaches the planter,” said Captain Campbell.

“Already, in the short time since the official announcement (3/2/’37) that the Government had taken power to control our fruit, local growers have formed themselves into labour groups and are clearing each other’s land, large areas of which are to be planted with bananas and tomatoes.

“If the Government is prepared to guarantee a regular fortnightly steamer service during the tomato and banana season, so that fruit may be picked as it matures, New Zealand should get Islands produce at prices which, while allowing for the planting of areas now ‘in bush,’

would also be far more within the con sumer’s reach than those at present prevailing.

“The appointment of Mr . Harvey Turner as Government distributor under the new scheme may yet have the approval of all parties concerned, as his expert knowledge of the Islands fruit trade has been proved again and again in the successful development of his own business Messrs. Turner and Growers Ltd.”

Owing to the illness which resulted in Captain Campbell leaving for New Zea land, he was unable to appear at the Parliamentary inquiry held here last winter.

New Government Control

Official notice was received here on March 3 that the New Zealand Govern ment had “taken power to control the export and sale of Cook Islands fruit,” but that it was not intended to put the whole of these powers into immediate operation.

The first local reaction to the announce ment was a scramble on the part of lead ing exporters to secure orange crops in the outer islands on a flat-price basis, the contracts to cover the entire seasonal shipments. Prices reported to have been offered were as high as 5/- a case for fruit only.

In Rarotonga, a tentative move was made towards obtaining contracts for the coming season on a flat rate of 3/6 a case (fruit only).

In view’ of the statements made before the Parliamentary Inquiry held here last July that the fruit-business was not a paying one for those engaged in it, it is

now surprising to find these people will ing to contract for fruit at far higher prices than prevailed at the time of the inquiry.

One explanation possibly lies in the fac" that the heavy book-debts carried by the majority of business houses can only be collected through handling deb tors’ produce. To retain the latter, buyers have obviously got to be able to show evidence that by continuing the present marketing system, growers will receive as much, if not more, benefit than under any form of official control.

Mr. William Mcßirney, Chairman of the Growers’ Association, and whose changes in opinion have mystified the members of his organisation, probably has lent colour to these pious wishes by his statement last month to the Resident Commissioner that he has no longer con sidered either a Fruit Board or other form of Government control necessary, since his Association now is operating so successfully. This is a point of view that is not generally endorsed in local pi -pplpc

Oranges At Sd. Each

It was reported in Auckland on April 2 that oranges were selling at sd. each and would be an extreme luxury in Auck land for the next few weeks. Produce merchants said that the embargo on Australian oranges had not affected the position, as no oranges are available from Australia. There was a shortage of oranges in the Pacific Islands.