Argue

To Gas Or Not To Gas?

Mangaia Orange Growers Still Argue

From Our Own Correspondent THE long-delayed issue of treating the local Mangaia (Cook Is.) orange harvest with ethylene gas, which has hung fire for nearly a decade, appears to be approaching a show-down.

This outpost is the only island of the Cook Group that has no gassing-shed, and exports its fruit untreated. No attempt has ever been made by authority to en force the treatment, and all Mangaia oranges go to NZ as they came off the plantation. As a result, the fruit could not be kept long enough in AI condition to be railed or re-shipped to NZ ; southern cities where there is a demand for it.

From appearances, islanders lose noth ing by gassing their fruit. Extra money is paid for the additional toil, and gangs of women are hired to de-button the oranges (this ensures complete permea tion by the preserving fumes), Mangaians would, of course, benefit by the extra amounts paid for this work. It would appear, however, that islanders here are

still suspicious that any concession to Administration innovations would inevi tably be followed finally by the enforce ment of a survey of lands; and hence, they continue to refuse to use the gassing process at all. The eradication of this long-held suspicion is a major headache for every RA, and future events are watched with interest.

Mr. Justice Gore and Mrs. Gore recently flew from Papua to join in the reunion of friends and relatives in the Goondiwindi district (south-west Queensland).

A daughter, Carenza, was recently bom to Mr. and Mrs. R. Warren of Vila, New Hebrides. The baby was born at the Puton Memorial Hospital, on Iririki Island.