Cook Is. Fruit
pp. 41-42 · Read in the full issue
First Year under Government Control
Prom Our Own Correspondent.
Rarotonga, March 4.
BY the February “Matua” there re turned the Resident Commissioner (Mr. Smith) fresh from conferences with the New Zealand Government con cerning the Cook Islands fruit industry.
On February 7, Mr. Smith addressed a large meeting of growers and others interested in the fruit industry. He stated that the N.Z. Government was satisfied with the result of the first year’s working under government con trol. A profit of £1,358/3/9 was made.
The Government will take control of bananas as from April 1. The price to be paid the grower will be 376 per case (but where grower has no debts with the stores, an extra 6d. will be paid).
The price for Samoan bananas is 5/per case, because they are packed better and tighter than the Cook Island product. If the Cook quota is filled, 53,000 cases will be exported between April and December, bringing to the island £7.000.
The Government will pay a straight out price of 4/- per case for oranges (plus the extra 6d. where no debt). It is ex
pected that this year’s crop will yield 20,000 cases from Rarotonga, and 70,000
cases from the outer Islands. All oranges will be shipped only on the “Matua”, none on any of the Trans pacific tramp steamers. The Union Co. is prepared to send the “Matua” on an extra trip in October, so that the late crop of oranges may be marketed.
Concerning the future of the orange industry, the C.I.A. have now planted 80,000 orange seedlings. When these are ready for transplanting, all growers with suitable land ready will receive the young trees free of charge.
The Commissioner said the Govern ment did not intend taking over the control of tomatoes this year, nor going ahead with the building of cold store.
Those matters would be considered next year.
Many speakers expressed satisfac tion, including:— Makea Nui Tinirau Ariki, 0.8. E.: “1 am pleased to hear what Mr. Smith has told us. I am speaking as a grower on behalf of the growers, everyone is pleased with the price of our fruit. I am going to tell my people to go ahead and plant.”
Mr. J. D. Campbell (Manager C.1.N.A.): Congratulated Mr. Smith on the balance sheet presented on the first
year’s working, and expressed pleasure at the prices for oranges and bananas.
Tukaro (Atiu): Speaking as the official representative of Atiu Island, he thanked the Resident Commissioner for the prices mentioned for bananas and oranges. Atiu would fall into line with the Resident Commissioner and the Government.
Mr. W. Mcßirney: The information brought us to-day is the most promising and helpful we have ever received in the Cook Islands.
Native Debts.
Natives who have debts incurred be fore April last are deducted fid. per case. Traders are pleased with this arrangement as in many cases they had not hoped to recover. Last year, £957/8/- was collected by this levy of fid. per case, and this year it is thought there will be approximately £3,000.