Cook Is. Fruit

Tragedy of the Disappearing Orange

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Aug. 8.

A PUBLIC notice to-day announces increased prices for Cook Is. citrus fruits and bananas, payable by the NZ Government Internal Marketing De partment. These include an extra 6d. per packed case to the growers for both Native and Special Variety oranges. All new prices for citrus fruits take effect from the beginning of the 1942 season.

Prices for grapefruit, lemons, mandarines and tangerines have also advanced.

The price of bananas has now been

placed on a quantity of shipment basis, i.e., 4 6 per packed case for shipment of under 6,000; 4/9 from 6,000 to 7,000 cases, and 5/- for over 7,000 cases—presumably in an effort to stimulate interest in the industry.

Since fruit prices have hitherto re mained at pre-war level, whereas the cost of living has increased by at least 25 per cent., the all-round increases are hailed with satisfaction. The additional pay out due on this season’s shipments to date is to be completed as soon as

possible.

With regard to Rarotonga oranges (other islands in the Lower Cook Group are not so badly affected as yet) it appears that the people will not be in a position to enjoy increased prices, or any price at all for that matter, for many more years. The great majority of the trees are ancient and now disease-ridden seedlings, which are rapidly passing out.

Each year, dead branches are pruned off until, by a regular process, nothing remains.

Fifty years ago one of the main indus tries on the island was the export of the juice of the wild lime tree; now not a single wild lime remains. Ten years hence this may well be the case with the Rarotonga “native” orange.

Model Advertisement (a suggestion to car salesmen): “For Sale—Five nearly new tyres and six gallons of petrol, £4OO.

Late model sedan thrown in free.”

Girl Friend: “Tell me, Sargie, why do u call your car ‘Shasta’?'’ Sergeant: , -Because shasta have petrol and shasta IlciVo Oil.