Cook Islands Fruit

Control.

Officials Claim That Plan Is A Success.

THE first year’s operation of the Cook Islands orange trade (export to and sale in New Zealand) under Govern ment control shows a profit of £1,538, for the period ended December 31 last.

The N.Z. Government advanced £lO,OOO for the operation of the control plan, and at December 31 the position was:— Assets: Cash, £6,093; shocks, £8,890; total, £14,984.

Commitments: Due to N.Z., £10,000; due to Rarotonga Treasury, £1,558; growers’ debts redemption fund, £957; due to shippers, £1,336; reserve fund, £427; total, £14,279.

This is held by the officials to be satisfactory; and they intend to carry on the control scheme vigorously dur ing the current year. Growers in Aitu taki, Atiu, Mauke and Mangaia have agreed to create a fund for the pur chase of boats, trucks, etc., for the operation of the fruit trade.

Levies of varying amounts, from 2d.

to Bd. per case, are being made to meet Administrative costs, purchase of manures, packing shed facilities, insur ance against shipwreck, etc.

“The genuine growers of the Cook Islands—and especially the outer islands —are behind the control scheme,” writes an official. “They ought to be. They have received regular, substantial pay ments in cash, better than the prices they previously received in ‘Kaiou’ (credit with the stores).

“Shipping was ever our great bug bear—a very real difficulty, and one that we will be faced with again this year.

“There is really a new spirit amongst the people in the Outer Group, which is manifested in great activities in road making to develop their fruit areas, and in other public works. Central packing sheds will be erected in April next at Aitutaki, Mauke and Atiu to replace former traders’ sheds, which were dis persed in various parts of the Islands.

“During a recent visit to Atiu the Commissioner opened no less than five new roads, and Mauke has now followed suit and built two magnificent roads across the Island. Jane Tararo Ariki, a fine young woman, headed the labour gangs in carrying stones with the best.

Men, women and children were all in cluded, and the teams vied with each other in order to have their roads com pleted.

“At Atiu, the officials paid out £1,200 in one day, all in cash, and to the in dividual grower, and I assure you it was a wonderful sight to see these people with cash in their hands. Traders raked in good money against old debts that day. In Rarotonga there is con siderable ‘opposition’ by a few, as you may imagine, and they are now at tempting to carry it to the Outer Islands, but meeting with no success whatever.

“Some of the traders, seeing the benefit of control, are now coming into line; but one or two are going to die very hard.”