Industry

Cook Islands Fruit Industry Lag in Banana Planting

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Aug. 2.

A MEETING of the Rarotonga Island Council on July 22, debated the vital question of banana planting on the island. Since the Government took con trol of the exoort of bananas, the low price offered and the strict regulations enforced have resulted in a heavy de crease in planting.

It was pointed out that if exports fall below the present average of 2,000 cases per month, it will not be worth the steamer’s while to make a regular call outside the orange season of four or five months. In view of this contingency, it is generally realised that instant banana planting is essential.

A haphazard scheme of Government assistance has been in operation for the last few years, whereby tins of meal were advanced to growers to tide them over the nine to twelve months of fruition. At the meeting, the Acting-Director of Agri culture (Mr. M. B. Baker) suggested an extension of this system. This, however, was opposed by most of the Council mem bers, who pointed out that the scheme had already proved unsuccessful in the past and that one could not pay labour for planting, etc, with tins of beef. An alternative scheme has been drawn up, in which the Government would advance 5/- cash per 100 shoots at planting, fol lowed by a further amount every three months for weeding and manuring.

In view of the failure of the Govern ment’s orange replanting scheme, an outside Committee was set up by the same meeting of the Council in order to explore iDOssible modifications that would make the plan more acceptable.

The failure of these replanting schemes simply boils down to the fact that the returns and conditions in the fruit in dustry are so unsatisfactory that people have not the urge to plant. How is it that a beneficent Government can give no better prices than the grasping N.Z. fruit combines, who were allegedly mak ing such large profits? This question, at a time when “uncontrolled” Cook Islands tomatoes are bringing such satisfactory returns, represents the whole problem of the industry.

Refund To Orange-Growers

The C.I. Fruit Control Administration has arranged to refund to growers part of the amount deducted from orange payments in May. A further 3d. per case will therefore be naid out at the next fruit payments, shortly. This action is appreciated by growers but has not in fluenced their dissatisfaction with pre vailing conditions in the orange industry.