Well With Citrus

[?] Atoes Favourite

[?]Rop

[?]res Show All Well With Citrus

JUGH the resources of the Cook Islands Department of Agriculture are concentrated ly on the citrus industry, the to crop is clearly top favourite growers. ; citrus crop proved disappoint n the 1955-56 financial year, ;s for which are just avail ; value of citrus exports fell 10,000 on the previous year, to 8. In comparison, tomato ex jumped from 52,000 to 92,000 , and the value rose by almost 0 to a new high of £lOO,OOO. was achieved by reasonably shipping connections with NZ. fortunately, exports of Cook is citrus are listed in the com y meaningless term of “boxes’ «ad of in bushels or pound t, or some other comparative ire. There is no generally ted standard size in citrus In the Cooks the case sd for oranges is 11 bushels, certain other citrus are id in the 1-bushel tomato case. 1 citrus are lumped together ; Annual Report it is not pos ter interested readers to know y what quantity was exported. iana exports reflect the in e announcement made during ear by Fruit Importers Ltd., ain New Zealand fruit import rganisation, that they would or all bananas delivered to onga wharf when an export is in port, regardless of er or not there is space aboard le actual export of the fruit, ty, of course, is given to orts rose from 181 bushel worth £174, in the previous to 946 cases worth £906. above guarantee applies only rotonga at present, and as a plantings are likely to show dy expansion on that island, main virtue of tomatoes and as is that they are a quick ig, cash crop, calling for a imall capital investment com with the citrus scheme, and enting no great loss in the of blight or hurricane, iapple exports, mainly from ha and Aitutaki, fell from to 15,000 cases, and the value £19,000 to £13,000.

This crop is highly dependent upon shipping space at the critical times, and has no priority.

The Minister recently indicated that current policy was to dis courage the growing of this perish able crop—but processing plans may alter that policy.

Copra production showed a de cline to the lowest tonnage for a good many years—l,o76 tons worth £72,000. In the previous year the value had been over £lOl,OOO, and the quantity 340 tons greater.

The output of mother-of-pearl shell declined from 290 to 242 tons, but prices were excellent and the financial yield rose by £lB,OOO to £92,000, highest since 1951.

Due to the closing of the Manihiki lagoon during 1956, this item will

show a serious decline in the current financial year, unless Suwarrow lagoon gives a phenomenal yield. Operations commenced there in June. 4 ue the tomato crop, the total yield from these main ex port it em s rose from £309,000 in the 1954-55 year to £333,000.

End Of Another Dream

Food Exporters (NZ) Ltd., who were reported last month (July PIM), as being interested in buy mg Cl tomatoes—to be paid for “on the beach”—have gone into reverse Reason (according to the company) ; Lack of co-operation by the Admin istration or Cl Shipping Commit tee in the matter of a vessel to pick up the tomatoes in August.