Visit Mangaia

"Orange Island" Bloc Urged

Makea and Other Rarotongan Leaders Visit Mangaia

From Our Own Correspondent

Mangaia, June.

WHEN the first fruit-steamer for ’45 called here recently, she carried the Makea of Rarotonga (Mrs.

Takau Rio Love), Mr. W. P. Browne, and Major Ward, who all came ashore to hold meetings, for the promotion of native welfare on this island.

There is much local dissatisfaction with the 6/- a case now offered for oranges.

And there are Mangaian war veterans (of World War I), broken in health, who have never had a penny of pension from the New Zealand Government for the best part of 30 years.

The visit of the leaders was in con nection with these two urgent reforms.

Mr. Browne and Mrs. Love both addressed large gatherings, urging the union of all Cl “orange islands” into a bloc, capable of bargaining collectively with the fruit-market in NZ, and, if necessary, suspending shipments from the whole Group if the present unprofit able price (to planters) is not raised.

It is stated that 6/- a case does not repay the labour and outlay of picking— arduous work, upon hilly Mangaia!

The same fruit, it is declared, fetches 35/-, and over, on the NZ market; and adjustment is being sought, in view of this profit of 29/-.

A DOCTOR from Rarotonga spent the steamer-day examining the native veterans of 1914-18, and a pensions

official from NZ recorded claims on their behalf.

The outcome has yet to be seen.

One of the veterans, who is helpless, was brought to the Dispensary by truck; and his condition excited much comment, as he is unable to work, and, until Major Ward took up his case, was entirely with out means.

At Mangaia only the fit survive, unless they possess money; the native life of the island being exceptionally hard for the aged and the incapable.

It is hoped that reforms will come out of fhese discussions and assemblies of steamer-day.

Mr. Browne, in conversation with this writer, spoke feelingly of the low living standards of Mangaians, caused by their slender income.

Our natives have money only between May and August each year, but their needs continue all the year round.

Profit and Loss Account

mHE very low living standard of the X outer Cook Islands is typified in the following little “statement” of a local neighbour’s profits and losses from the first fruit shipment of this year, ex . Mangaia Island:

Fifty-four shillings, minus 33/3, leaves 20/9, to be shared among a family of six persons—that is, an average share of 3/5 1 to repay a week’s hard work in the hilly inland, among dense bush, and, this steamer, in pouring rain.

For this “basic award wage” of 3/5 h per individual, the Internal Marketing Division of the NZ Government has obtained nine cases of first-class oranges, the Group’s best, to sell in New Zealand at 35/- or more per case!

Is it to be wondered that the native planter feels that the IMD are robbers, and the LMS a drain upon native Christians?

9 cases oranges, at 6/- case .. 54/- Less: Levy for church repairs, 1/- per case 9/- School fee for one child .. .. .. .. 10/- Annual sub. to LMS (married

couple) 12/- Trucking cases to landing-place .. 2/3 Total 33/3