Flutters With Cook Is

Cook Is. Fruit

‘apple crop of Mangaia, Islands —w h i c h the ers have gone ahead and in the face of Adminis scouragement—was dis mid-October when the visited by NZ officials, ing of the annual session ook Islands Legislative 3 postponed from October >er 23 to permit the visit, he winter, Mangaia was Mr. H. Wattie, of H. nneries Ltd., a leading id food-processing organ r. Wattie later said that .vourably impressed and ompany would probably fruit and vegetable pro nt in the Cook Islands, lat a satisfactory agree be reached with growers, lere was a report that ian pineapple crop might d in New Zealand by the lis season. A processing i take some considerable tablish in the Cooks, a satisfactory price be negotiated, or the janisation had changed is it was reported from i September that Watties be processing the 1956-57

This left two alternatives to the growers: to accept a price offer from Fruit Distributors Ltd., the organisation which has the sole rights of importing citrus fruit into New Zealand, or of shipping the fruit “on consignment” to let it fetch what it might in the open market. The latter can be very suc cessful —or very unsuccessful—de pending largely on the condition of the fruit on arrival.

The Administration has tried to persuade Mangaian growers to divert their efforts to a less risky crop, as it is not always possible to arrange shipping at the critical times of ripening. However, the Mangaians have gone ahead and substantially increased their plant ings in recent years and there are indications that the Administration is accepting this situation and is making every effort to see that the crop is marketed.

The refrigerated vessel Viti has again been chartered for several voyages, and she will be held in the Cooks for short periods so that the interval between Maui Pomare load ings is served.

The official party visiting Mangaia in October included Mr. G. A.

Walsh MP., representing the New Zealand Government at the Legis lative Council session, Secretary of Island Territories, Mr. J. B. Wright, and the Resident Commissioner of the Cooks, Mr. G. Nevill.

First Pineapples

Maui Pomare brought the season’s first consignment of pine apples from Mangaia, Cook Islands, to Auckland on October 28.

The 3,000 cases were distributed throughout the North Island.

A comparatively large consign ment of mangoes, 315 boxes, was also received from the Cooks.

It appears probable that tomato exports from the Cook Islands will reach an all-time record this year, thanks to good shipping outlets.

Little, if any, of the crop has been lost through absence of shipping.

The season is now almost ended.