Planting Industry

Cook Is. Economics

Plan for Restoring Planting Industry

From Our Own Correspondent RAROTONGA, August 2.

SEVERAL Island Council and Fruit Advisory Committee meetings have been held in Rarotonga recently, with the advent of Mr. R. T. G. Patrick, of the Prime Minister’s Department, at Wellington. Matters under discussion in cluded:— Plans for the replanting of the island in citrus and bananas.

Secondary industries.

Parliamentary representation in New Zealand.

A committee was set up to investigate the great obstacle to the Citrus Replant ing Scheme, which is the communal ownership of land. It is not proposed to tamper with the actual system of land tenancy, but it is the aim of the Administration to helo any person, who wishes to plant citrus, to procure suitable land on suitable terms. It has been found that native planters quickly lose interest in a nlantation where dispute has arisen over the ownershin of the land.

Although in most cases the land is still held communally, enterprise has become individual.

The planting of bananas, being a short term crop, is not so difficult, and a further scheme has been put forward, similar to that which produced such satisfactory re sults last year. During 1942, more bananas were planted in Rarotonga than for many years, and rising quantities for export were expected. Unfortunately, the hurricane of March 10, 1943, completely destroyed these plantations—hardly a ripe banana has been seen on the island since.

A relief plan was adopted at the Island Council meetings, and it is now an nounced that, following Mr. Patrick’s investigations, this to a large extent has been approved by the New Zealand Government.

The banana-planting season starts in September and, unless action is taken soon, it seems probable that native growers will be more interested in pro ducing hula skirts and the like, than in growing bananas at 5/- a case, a price which they are convinced does not retheir fair share. (See “PIM” of May, 1943—“ Fiji and Samoa Banana Ex ports.”) SECONDARY agricultural industries which might prove profitable are the production of arrowroot, pieri (dried bananas), and kumaras. Coffee grows well in the Lower Cook Group, and might be developed to help alleviate the present shortage in New Zealand.

The old question of representation in the New Zealand Parliament has again been raised. Europeans who now have to pay income tax to New Zealand feel that it is a case of taxation without represen tation. The Maoris would be interested in being able to elect their own Island Council. At present, nearly all the Maori members are nominated, and- for life at that.

A Rubber Control Board has been set up in Rarotonga for the rationing and conservation of tyres and tubes. Cotton goods, also, have been scarce for the last year and, although only light clothing is necessary in this climate, many of the poorer natives—particularly those in the outlying islands—are already short.