Cooks Can Be Made Fit

Report Shows How:—

Cooks Can Be Made Fit For Islanders To Live In

r[E Belshaw-Stace “Programme” for economic development in the Cook Islands was recently sub mitted to the New Zealand govern ment. It is based on an investiga tion made in the Group in 1955 and makes these points: • There is too much free-aid to Islanders and insufficient emphasis on self-help. • The feeling of Outer-islanders that Rarotonga is “favoured” by [Government is justified. • It is a disservice rather than i help to exaggerate the possibil ties of economic expansion. • All is not well with the citrus ■eplanting scheme.

The Report calls for improved ransport and marketing, provision ►f capital and supplies, increased esponsibility to be borne by the /ook Islanders, and better educa ional facilities.

Great emphasis is placed on im proving public relations to stimu ate and direct the Interest of the eople in local affairs and to pro lote an at present non-existent ammunity spirit.

Certain public buildings in Raro )nga are cited as examples of misguided policy”—i.e., favouring .arotonga—in that they cannot be uplicated in the outer islands, omething less grand would have sen adequate, and more desirable ewed from an outer-islands point ' view.

Before any firm suggestion can be ade regarding the expansion or versification of agriculture in the roup a thorough survey of popula m trends, soils and land capabil ies will be necessary. Such surveys tould be carried out immediately.

The researchers also emphasise iat even although certain crops ight grow well in these islands, e temperament of the people ust be considered. A crop like nilla, which requires a great deal painstaking work, is not likely be a success. High priority is ven to agricultural experimenta m, but with the above aspect iphasised.

Ihe researchers show in detail at all is not well with the Citrus Scheme and its future tlook. They consider that bananas uld better suit the Southern oup outer islands. Due to ship ig problems, the tomato crop auld be encouraged only in Raro iga, and the pineapple crop only Mangaia. The copra crop could d should be greatly expanded and

npletely reorganised.

The report calls for the appoint ment of an assistant to the Director of Agriculture, an experimental officer with the necessary Maori staff, an additional field officer for the Southern Group, a field officer for the Northern Group, and an agricultural education officer A forestry officer will also soon be re quired.

A marketing board should be established, and also a copra board though the former board might per form both functions. The present system of copra marketing was found to be completely unsatis factory.

The researchers consider that there is likely to* be a considerable rise in population in the future, as health conditions are improved and the present heavy infant death rate lowered.

This will call for greatly expanded food crops.

Resident Agents will have to take active roles as development officers, and will have to be leaders exercis ing initiative and guidance in the promotion of community activity and economic development. They will have to be men specially picked for their jobs, and their terms of service, to preserve continuity, should be lengthened. This should also apply with the Resident Commis sioner.

A reorganisation of the taxation system is recommended, the appli cation of New Zealand income tax ceasing. Taxation should be thoroughly explained to the people.

There should be a local income tax and a local schedule of Custom duties. Export duties should stand as at present but consideration

should be given to applying the pro ceeds to the particular industries vhich yield these taxes.

A Bank of the Cook Islands is ■ecommended along similar lines to he Bank of American Samoa, to irovide finance for development. It hould be a quasi-public concern, lot a government department. It /ould provide full banking facil ities, at present non-existent. It hould take over the present Post )ffice Savings Bank accounts.

As the principal means of im roving public relations, which will e a vital part of the plan, the pre mt broadcasting system will have ) be considerably extended. This ill call for equipment and for the ppomtment of a technician, pro ramme production officer, a home jonomist, and a translator-in irpreter.

Development of the North Group lands, all atolls, should be limited 1 the copra industry. A field officer recommended for the Northern roup to supervise this develop ed. He would be based at mrhyn, which would assume new iportance as a northern capital.

A Government-owned schooner mid be based there for the use the field officer and other admin iration officials, as well as for the avement of passengers and limited aounts of cargo.

The authors stress that these de lopments must be spread over me years.