Rumoured Backing By NZ Government

Cipa In The Inter-Island

Transport Business Now

From Our Mangaia Correspondent

THE Cook Islands Progressive Associa tion, which has faded from the news somewhat of late, appears to have changed its tactics.

It is now making a bold bid for the control of inter-island transport. Its newly acquired motor-vessel, a converted Fairmile, made a round of the lower Cooks in the last week of June, and is scheduled to make further trips, to carry passengers between islands and pick up cargo.

The Association is well established, with a store and an exporting business in Raro tonga, and plans include extension of the enterprise, which is all-native and co operative, to the outer islands of the Group.

The Association is interested in market ing off-season products, such as candle nuts and arrowroot, etc., which are not handled by the NZ Government’s Internal Marketing Division, to which goes the whole of the orange crop each season.

Though there are rumours that the CIPA intends to enter the orange trade later there are no present indications of the IMD ceding its monopoly to the As sociation. In any case, the small Fair mile, with its limited cargo capacity, would not be suited to the carriage of oranges to New Zealand.

Observers with long experience of trade and shipping are intrigued with the alleged new attitude of the NZ Govern ment towards the formerly noisy and re bellious Association and its leader. Albert Henry. Originally anti-CIPA, the Gov

ernment is now believed to be taking an active interest in the enterprise, possibly with a view to quietening native discon tent at this end.

In taking over the orange trade, the Socialist NZ administration utilised exist ing markets, built-up by private interests over many years of trading. If the Asso ciation's enterprise is successful and ex pands, a similar development may pos sibly eventuate.

It has been stated here that the NZ Government encouraged the purchase of the new Fairmile, a former sub-chaser, with a loan to the CIPA of £11,000 towards the total cost of £15,000. This, if accurate, indicates that the Socialist ad ministration sees in the new venture a possible avenue for the gaining of good will among the Cook Islanders; or, alter natively, a means of getting control of the Association, and reducing its power, if the Henry faction fails to play ball with the NZ authorities.

Enthusiasm for the CIPA here at Man gaia runs high, and locals are seeking, by what means suit them best, the £3 share money that gives the individual planter a stake in the Association and the ship.

There are also, to offset the enthusiasts.

Mangaian men-from-Missouri who evoke the vanished Rarotonga Fruit Company, a former native enterprise, long defunct, and keep their cash in hand until the CIPA shall have achieved victory against the long-established trading interests with

head offices in NZ, and share-capital run ning into the million.

Whatever the outcome, the CIPA has at least made good its promise to acquire a ship of its own, and the trading in terests are now faced with the prospect of having to produce something bigger and better, or lose a certain amount of face.