More Exports From

The Cooks; But Niue Sells Less

Exports from the Cook Islar in 1962 were about 20 per ce higher than in 1961, but Niu exports for 1962 were lower th the previous year, the New Z< land Minister for Island Tei tories, Sir Leon Gotz, announc

in April.

HE said the total value of expc from the Cook Islands in 1! was £.710,653, compared wi £598,184 in 1961, and £464,315 1960.

Significant increases occurred 1962 in exports of fruit juice, wh more than doubled (from 151,685 306,809 gallons) and pineapples, wh more than quadrupled (from 1,! cases to 5,706 cases). A much lar quantity of pineapples was supp] to the cannery on Rarotonga.

Exports of fresh citrus fruit j tomatoes declined but those bananas, copra and mother-of-p( shell increased. Total citrus prod tion, comprising fresh fruit for port and fruit processed for ju almost equalled the Cook Isla record in 1924 when the product of wild oranges was at its peak. 1 record would probably be exceei this year.

Sir Leon Gotz said: “While C< Islands exports in 1962 increased s stantially, those for Niue declii from £35,085 in 1961 to £3O/ last year.

“This is because agriculture is i suffering from the after-effects of hurricanes of 1959 and 1960 < because most of the island’s m power is tied up in rebuilding hoc and other buildings destroyed by hurricanes.”

He said the main exports fr Niue last year were bananas (3 V cases), copra (130 tons), and kuma (3,947 bags). The copra exports w the first since 1959.

Niue’s exports were expected increase as the rehousing scheme di to an end and able-bodied men w able to devote more time to a; culture.

It was also announced in April t Mr. Foster Gufigufi, of Niue’s Agric ture Department, would undertake livestock training course with F: Department of Agriculture from IV until the end of the year. He wo then become livestock officer in Nil Agriculture Department.