Reduction In C.I. Orange

Crop Predicted

From Our N.Z. Correspondent

Auckland. Apr. 16.

PREDICTING a considerable reduction in the quantity of oranges exported from Rarotonga, Mr. R. McKegg, manag ing director of the Cook Islands Trading Co., who has been spending a holiday in New Zealand, declared that little syste matic planting had taken place in Raro tonga in recent times and many of the trees now in existence were too old.

F~ops would be diminished greatly unVss fresh planting was commenced and natives taught the proper methods of pruning and fertilising trees. Mr.

McKegg added that his remarks did not apply to outlying islands in the group.

Higher prices for copra had resulted in an improvement in trade in the group and conditions were now much better than for several years, he continued.

Banana production was back to normal, and cold storage accommodation on the Matua enabled fruit to be marketed in N.Z. in much better condition than previously.

Mr, McKegg mentioned that the tomato crop was expected to be a good one this year, and the first 4,000 or 5,000 cases would probably be landed in New Zea land in May.

Rev. W. Anderson, a Scottish minister who is working in the New Hebrides under the John G. Paton Fund, returned to the Condominium in April, after fur lough in New Zealand and Victoria. Mr.

Anderson is stationed at Hog Harbour on the island of Santo.