"S.J.S." Retires
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Sequel to Cook Is. Fruit Control
Plan
MR. S. J. SMITH, who retired a couple of months ago from the position of Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands, has now, at his own request, re tired from the New Zealand Government Service on superannuation. He had been 40 years in the service—the last 23 con nected with the Islands Territories.
It is no secret that Mr. Smith was a bitterly disappointed man when he with drew from Rarotonga. He had devoted years of his life to a study of the condi tions surrounding the marketing of the produce of Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa in New Zealand; and when the N.Z.
Labour Government decided to take con trol of the trade, Mr. Smith went eagerly to Rarotonga in 1937, as Resident Com missioner, to direct the marketing organi sation there, and try out certain plans and strongly-held theories of his own.
He found, however, that plans and theories which appeared sound and “watertight” in the rooms of politicians and officials, had a different appearance when put under practical test in the cold and merciless light of the market-place.
The difficulties of the fruit control plan seemed to grow in number and complexity, the longer he struggled with them, and almost broke his heart.
Mr. Smith, however, both as an im portant official in Wellington, and as an Island Administrator, proved himself to be a man of courage, rectitude and indus try; and, even if his fruit control plans went awry, it is a fact that he leaves be hind him, in New Zealand and her tropi cal territories, an enviable record of work well done, and a very large number of friends and well-wishers.