Languishes

C.I. Banana Trade Languishes “ Matua's" Calls Reduced

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Sept. 2.

A BOMBSHELL was dropped in Raro tongan commercial circles last month when the Resident Commis sioner announced that the usual monthly mail steamer, M.V. “Matua”, would omit this port in alternative months until next orange season. This is the outcome of the stagnation in banana planting during the last two years, the Adminis tration no longer being able to guaran tee sufficient fruit to make the monthly trips worth-while.

With the N.Z. Government buying bananas under the Fruit Control scheme here at 4/- per case, the bulk of the growers hold the opinion that it is pro fiteering on the sale of fruit in New Zealand, since market prices there are firm. Growers, therefore, consider 4/insufficient and the result is—a two monthly steamer service. In view of the fact that Samoa and Fiji, with their big areas of land suitable for banana plant ing on a large commercial scale, are continually seeking larger quotas it seems unlikely that the fall in C.I. banana exports will be felt anywhere else than in the unfortunate Cook Islands!

Exports of tomatoes and kumaras, which are still in the hands of the “grasping” traders, are bringing in par ticularly good returns this year and, in consequence, the pinch has not yet been felt.

Not since the first development of the Cook Islands fruit export trade have things come to such a parlous state.

One boat per month is not considered sufficient to make banana planting pay: anybody foolish enough to plant for a two-monthly steamer would soon be ruined.

C.I. growers are not the only ones who believe that the N.Z. Government is not giving Islands planters a fair deal.

Some months ago Mr. J. Hutchinson, a prominent planter from Tonga, voiced the same opinion in the newspapers, giv ing figures to back his statements.