"Fruit Control"

Opposed

Cook Islanders Refuse to Cut Bananas

Prom Our Own Correspondent.

Rarotonga, Apr. 25.

SINCE February, when the Resident Commissioner (Mr. S. J. Smith) returned from New Zealand with the fruit prices that the N.Z. Government was prepared to pay for the coming season, everyone had been looking ahead for a prosperous year.

At the end of March the Commissioner issued a notice to the effect that the N.Z. Government would now pay 4/per case for oranges, and 3/6 per case for bananas, instead of the same prices plus 6d. per case where a grower had no debt with the stores, and where he had a debt that 6d. would be deducted from it. The reason for this alteration in prices was due to a misunderstand ing between the N.Z. Government and the C.I. Administration, as this debt col lecting arrangement had been in force last year.

At the same time there was issued the new banana packing regulations. In the past growers had packed their own fruit, but there were many complaints from N.Z. buyers concerning the bad and loose pack. The new regulations stated that the Government would do the packing, the growers delivering the fruit loose at the sheds, where it would be weighed, and a credit slip for the weight given. When the shipment was completed the average weight per case would be known; the growers then would be paid for the number of pounds de livered, less their share of rejects.

This seems to be the fairest method of buying to all concerned.

Without permitting this scheme a fair trial, a number of growers, whom Com missioner Smith calls “hot-heads” and “agitators”, convened meetings of native growers, advising them not to cut bananas, unless the Government was prepared to pay their price of 3/6 for a 70-lb. case, and allow them to do their own packing.

To counteract this propaganda, Mr.

Smith called a meeting of Arikis, Mataiapos, Island Council members, Fruit Advisory Committee, European growers, and traders. He informed them of the true position and asked the leaders to advise their people to give the scheme a fair trial. If the growers did not ship there would be a danger of Rarotonga losing its market in New Zealand, and possibly the steamer ser vice. Councillor Bennett and many of the Arikis spoke in favour of support ing the Government.

Mr. W. P. Browne (who at one time was a chief advocate and supporter of the “fruit control” scheme) bitterly attacked the scheme. He urged that the Government should yield to their de mands otherwise no bananas would be cut.

It is admitted that the price of 3/6 is

hardly adequate for the amount of work entailed to produce a case of bananas, but growers cannot expect any improve ment in price until the quality and are improved.

The upshot of it all was that only 800 cases were shipped to the New Zea land market by the April “Matua”, in stead of the usual 4,000.

Mr. R. B. Jackson, of the New Guinea Police Force, Rabaul, spent furlough in Australia with his wife in April.

Mr. H. Terpstra, an Amsterdam min ing engineer, with two geologists, is making preparations to undertake an other gold-seeking expedition on behalf of the Netherlands New Guinea Mining- Company in Dutch New Guinea.

Mr. J. P. Tracey, of Nauru, Central Pacific, received a welcome cable from Sydney early in May, stating “Mother and three sons are doing well”. The triplets, Richard, John and Joseph, were born to his 26-years-old wife at St.

Margaret’s Hospital on May 1. They are the couple’s first children.

Monsieur Casimar arrived at Vila, New Hebrides, by the April “Ville de Strasbourg” from France to replace Monsieur Sautot as French Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides dur ing the latter’s leave in Europe.

Inspector G. G. Kermode, accompanied by Mrs. Kermode and family, left Fiji for England on leave by the “Niagara” in April. Inspector I. E. Lucchinelli is relieving him as District Inspector in Suva.

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Peadon departed from Sydney on May 10 for New Guinea by the W.R.C. Airlines plane. They returned to the Ramu, where their gold claim is situated.