Copra Piling Up In Cook

OINCE Abels Ltd., of Aucklai who handle all copra coming ir New Zealand, announced at the e of June that their requirements f the local market are fully met for t present year, copra congestion h developed at Rarotonga and Niue.

Early in July the NZ Islands Ter tories Department announced that had asked the British Ministry Food to arrange shipment of all su copra to the United Kingdom, un further notice, as provided in t present agreement.

The British MOF is naturally i luctant to send a vessel to the Coo for a comparatively small shipmei but the 500 tons which had accum lated in Rarotonga alone by mi August was causing considerable i convenience, due to limited stora] facilities.

The Rarotonga traders feel th it is up to the NZ Government to c vert Maui Pomare to Apia or othe wise arrange shipment of this cop; to a point where a MOF vessel im load it along with other copra. 5 long as it lies in the Cooks tl traders are penalised, as payment i them is on an f.o.b. basis. At tl same time they are expected to coj tinue purchasing copra from pr< ducers and holding it in store uni shipment is arranged.

Rarotonga m late August, sai that unless the accumulation is soc shipped they will cease buying.

Later—announced in Sydney ear , September that British ship going ■< once to pick up Cook Is. copra.