Economic Conditions In
p. 148 · Read in the full issue
Small Cook Island
Letter to the Editor A LETTER from Mr. Edwin Gl of Mangaia, appeared under heading, “Great Mangaian penment,” in December PIM. Sli ping delays have made it impossi to reply earlier. He referred! a few minor economic improveme I am trying to introduce into Island badly in need of major o] Mr. Gold writes: “I have ns seen a co-operative store succt or even endure long, even w; directed by experienced old ham As he admits to residence ir 12,000-acre island for 30 years, opportunities for seeing anyth have been perhaps a little stricted. I personally have si native-run co-operatives functii ing at least enduringly in Brit Honduras, the Gold Coast, Cl Tanganyika and the Sudan.
Perhaps he has overlooked fact that economic co-operation no new thing to the people Mangaia. The eight Aronga p or boat companies, in the Isk handle all inward and outw cargo on strictly co-operative lii They were functioning long bef Mr. Gold arrived in Mangaia. E the Mangaians been given : leadership or encouragement earlier Administrations, they wo certainly have established a operative store for themselves Some time ago Mr. Gold nu the statement (published in PE that there are no worms Mangaia. He also said that Mi gaian pineapples are unsuitable canning. Nevertheless, millions i worms continue to flourish, s pineapples have now been cam to the satisfaction of a large N Zealand catering firm.
One of the local governors cently urged the people to operate with my efforts to build a direct copra trade with P Zealand—advice based on my s; cess last year in exporting co< direct (and profitably) to I There are now five copra kilns; Mangaia; a year ago there v none—the unfortunate people struggling to sun-dry their coprai an utterly unsuitable climate.
I am, etc.,
Ronald Syme
Mangaia, Cl.
(This correspondence is n ■ closed.—Ed.) if Dorothy E. Yorks, better knoo as “Yorkie,” has taken over catering arrangements of the Club, Port Moresby, and will pc vide dinners, lunches, morning as afternoon teas for members. S has been with the Department ; Civil Aviation in the Territory the past five years; this is her fifl venture into business on her oc behalf.