Future Of Cook Islands

MB. D. M. RAE, MP, of Auckland, has reported to the NZ Government after his visit to the Cook Islands that the future of the citrus and other planting: schemes was dependant on a reliable shipping service linking the Lower Group islands and Rarotonga, and be tween Rarotonga and New Zealand. He agreed with the point stressed in PIM In the past that a reliable feeder service from the outer islands to Rarotonga was as essential as a service from Rarotonga to New Zealand if wastage of fruit was to be avoided.

Mr. Rae considered that a reasonable air-passenger service from Rarotonga to New Zealand was an urgent necessity.

He recommends the Government should arrange charter-flights with NAC as re quired.

Mr. Rae found there was a “difficulty in Rarotonga teacher-trainees in New Zealand receiving C certificates and demanding New Zealand rates of pay, tropical allowances and furlough leave like New Zealand teachers in Rarotonga”, and suggested alternatively the training of teachers in the Cook Islands to a standard lower than the C certificate but adequate, as he saw it, for local requirements.

Mr. Rae has praised the efforts of the Cl Department of Agriculture and Mr.

Maurice Baker, its head, in the drive to reorganise the citrus industry. He found that the revitalised fruit industry would help to employ many, though by no means all, of the idle Cook Island youths. ♦ * * Agriculture officials from Rarotonga who inspected new citrus plantings at Altutakl recently expressed disappointment. A number of plots, they said, had not been properly cared for, and 50 new plots projected for Aitutaki will not be planted until the older plots are properly tended.

Good progress is being made on Atlu with a new stone Catholic Church of Gothic design. The work commenced under Rev. Father Florlbert three years ago.

Three acres of case-wood timber trees are being planted on Atiu by local school boys, as a contribution towards the de velopment of timber stands in the Group to ultimately supply the fruit and MOP case needs.

Although American Forces departed from Penrhyn Island In 1947, the Administration only lately called for tenders for 80 drums of lubricating oil which have been there since then. Some of the drums are now so rusted they will probably burst on movement.

Progress is being made on Rarotonga in the volunteer tree-planting scheme, to prevent erosion and beautify the en circling coastal road.

Constable Tomaiti, of Manihiki atoll, died in March —second fatal case within a few months —as a result of a collapse while shell diving in the lagoon.

Good runs of ature fish were taking place in March and the stone fish-traps were taking a rich harvest of the succulent little mackerel. Price on the beach: 14 fish for 1/-. As a result of a strict police ban on dynamiting shoals of ature have entered Avarua lagoon area for the first time in three years. The fish are only about 4 inches long, as com pared with the usual 8 or 9 inches.

Takeu Paitai, a leading member of the Vakatini family of Rarotonga, died in hospital there on February 18,