Basketware

Niue Hat And

Trade “in Doldrums”

Prom a Special Correspondent NIUE, July 18.

SOME time ago New Zealand placed a surcharge on postage of plaited ware of Id. per pound. The parcel post age rate has now been substantially raised but the Id. per pound is still being charged.

The plaited ware trade

is one of the mainstays of Niue and, apart from copra, is one of the few means of islanders acquir ing ready cash. Niue Island hats, once worth many thousands of pounds to the people are now un saleable in New Zealand owing to the Government’s failure to protect the trade and allowing the importa tion of cheap hats from the East. The Niuans were paid 2/- each for Fa hats and this was a steady source of income for most of the Island women. Now that the increase in postage is making plaited baskets more expensive, the NZ Government should remove the surcharge of Id. per pound on plaited ware.

If the island were better served with shipping, this basket industry could be come a most valuable source of income.

As it is, the Matua accepts only a limited

number of bags of parcels for six months of the year and the trade is in the dol drums. Traders are hoping that the National Government will take a greater interest in the plaited ware trade.

Niue women making baskets and hats.