Control Scheme

Cooks to Run Fruit Control Scheme

Full responsibility for the Cook Islands Fruit Control Scheme, under which interest-bearing loans from the New Zealand Government have been used to help growers establish, culti vate, renovate and extend citrus plan tations, is to be vested in the Cook Islands legislature.

THE decision for a full transfer of control was made by NZ Cabinet in October following representations from the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly.

From October 1 outstanding loans from the New Zealand Government to the fruit control scheme, totalling £550,000, are being converted into a non-recoverable grant. The Legisla tive Assembly assumes responsibility for advancing and recovering loans to growers, and for replacing the scheme’s assets when this becomes ne cessary.

These assets, which have also been transferred to Cook Islands control, include the Rarotonga cool store and packing shed built in 1960 for more than £260,000, plus tractors, power sprayers and associated equipment, and stores, all worth about £165,000.

The Assembly has undertaken to honour existing agreements for the disposal of citrus crops, entered into by the Minister of Island Territories.

An important feature of the terms of transfer is that loan moneys re

covered from citrus growers will be available for other islands economic development projects.

“The handing over of the Fruit Control Scheme to the Cook Islands Legislature is another step in New Zealand’s policy of progressively transferring responsibility to the people of the Cook Islands,” said Sir Leon Gotz, NZ Minister for Island Territories, in Wellington in October.

“The citrus industry is the largest contributor to the economy.”