Boosting Orange
pp. 15-16 · Read in the full issue
Production NZ Government's Plan for Cook Islands
From Our Own Correspondent
Rarotonga, Feb. 3.
THE most important matter discussed during the visit of the NZ Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in December, was a new replanting scheme for oranges.
A preliminary study of the subject was made by Mr. M. Baker, Director of Agri culture in Rarotonga, Mr. A. G. Osborne, MP, Assistant Minister of Island Terri tories, and Mr. Ross Fraser, Acting Dir ector of Internal Marketing Division, who recommended: That the Government lease from groups of owners plots of family land up to 10 acres, for a period of 15 years.
The Administration to take full respon sibility for clearing and planting of the lands with orange trees; and, subse quently, proper care and attention of the growing trees, and shipment and market ing of the fruit at the best possible price when the trees are in bearing.
The owners and members of their families to be employed—wherever willing —to work on their own lands at regular wages provided by the Administration.
At the end of the 15-year period, the plantations will revert to their owners as going concerns. In the meantime, as soon as the trees come into production the owners will receive 50 per cent, of the net profits, the rest to be retained by the Government until all expenses accrped in the development of the plots have been cleared (it is estimated that after the twelfth year the owners would get full benefit of the proceeds).
An experimental plan for an aggregate of 100 acres is the immediate proposal.
Orange trees would be planted 90 to the acre, and could be expected to produce their first case of fruit at five years— rising to a full maturity crop of about five cases per annum at 10 years of age.
Thus, a hundred acres in full bearing could produce 45.000 cases annually.
All efforts would be made to work the plantations as economically as possible.
Mechanical means would be provided for clearing and preparation; existing roads would be improved and new ones made where necessary.
IT is emphasised that from the clearing stage until the plantation is put into the hands of its owners in full pro duction, the full risks and responsibilities are to be borne by the Government. From the commencement of operations, the owners would thus be in receipt of rent, wages and, as soon as possible, a share of the profits—and at no personal finan cial risk to themselves.
Naturally, sincere and energetic co operation on the part of the owners them selves would be necessary for satisfactory results. It should be quite clear that the scheme has been evolved to put the natives at the best end of the wicket and, with sincerity on their part, they would be given aid and encouragement to stay there.
Principal factors in past citrus fruit planting plans were the natural improvi dence of islanders, and the reasonable fact that a man—especially a man with a large family, as most Polynesians are —must find the means of daily susten ance. A successful citrus plantation, starting from bushland, means a lot of work in the early stages, constant after care, and no financial return for the first five years. It has become practically impossible to find anyone willing to make this effort, A fruit plan that will really work satis
factorily from the growing end to the selling end, is the only hope for a real future in Rarotonga. Nothing else pro vides the substance for the establishment of any real and lasting prosperity.
SOME difficulty was experienced in presenting the new orange growing scheme to the local Fruit Advisory Committee owing to the Committee’s insistance that the Government first agree to an immediate flat rate of 10/per case for oranges.
It took considerable time to convince the Committee that no Government could possibly guarantee a price for the un known market conditions of five to ten years hence.
Mr. Osborne appealed to the Commit tee not to confuse the new planting scheme with their present differences; these would receive the Government’s closest attention later. The scheme, he said, was a long-range plan in order to build something for their future and for their children’s future.
A suggestion has been made that intelligent boys be given instruction in modern agriculture methods.
It~ is understood that outlines of the plan have met with a favourable recep tion among the natives generally and a number of applications have already been made for participation.