THE COOK ISLANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 230, 25 September 1908, Page 4

THE COOK ISLANDS.

UNDEVELOPED XATIVE JOBICULTUSAL POSSLBIUTIEs. Colonel Gudgeon, Resided Co»- ioa - min the Cook 1 !-itad^tSriSTr? economic administration of th_l^ th ' that archipe.ago, observes that thTr- w landholders of the group if latg9 hut use it even in V^&, ,ra «« '-"giving the people a produce, might be wealthy men W ' tney would not do so, the onlv'n!?•** for such m en was by wa/otlS ■ Europeans. An interesting ideaTi" conditions under which the natives „ at present working in agricultural ™ suits in the island's Star representative from Mr To Cotterell, of Te Aroha, who h'J\h over thirteen years' experience n « different groups of the" South Pa£ ana who, accompanied by Mrs. Cotte're? has returned to Auckland from £j& __?._S_. TOlt i 0 tbe Cook and s °4 Mr. Cotterell stated that there*, a pressing need in the Cook grou D fl tne establishment of an experimental station, as recommended some six V e_™ ■f >?y Government officials, inclidinMr. T. Kirk, the Government j here was (he said) about 10,000 acres' of land m Rarotonga, and close on 'a 000 acres in the whole group, available'for cultivation, and yet practically _» oeveloped, when all the possibilities of tne land were considered. Such a station as recommended would teach the natives the best economic uses for their land, and constitute an invaluable and necessary object lesson to both'natives and future settlers. The land wa_ admirably adapted for the growth of ciirous fruits, bananas, rubber, tobacco ccroanuts, mangoes, pineapples, and possibly cinchona. "The natives," he saia, "are such imitators that they would be certain to adopt the methodshown to them at such a station, especi_lly in a place where the seeds could be so easily obtained for the purpose. As a proof, the mere establishment of advanced methods by Europeans ha 3 proved a great incentive for the natives to do likewise, and further impetus has l*en given by the commencement of the wcr-k of surveying and individualising the titles in Rarotonga, thus rendering the lands so passed free of impost or tribute. Prior to this, heavy demands were made on property in the- way Of tiibute to the chiefs." Continuing, Mr. Cotterell stated that for nearly three weeks in the month 'he natives were practically idle, exc-p; for merely attending to their own wants, while on the fourth week they were hard at work handling and preparing cargo for shipment. Hy thus "placin" all their eggs in one basket," as regards oranges and bananas and.a few other fruits in inconsiderable quantities, the natives were running serious risks of dearth in the case of ravages by insee; pests. _\bthii!g was cultivated except the spontaneous vegetation, and with no object lesson to provide them with some instruction, the natives had not the lea?; incentive to work on advance*- line;. There was, he was confident, a great future for the islands in. these, other i_dusiries, and with the establishment of an experimental station, the large areas of undeveloped land wou-dl-certahily te tv_' to better use by their present owners. For example, on ten acres of the land, under intense cultivation, a Ei ropean could easily make a living.for Hmse'f and family, whilst a native family would live comfortably on a • quarter of an acre of taro land, or on two acres of oranges and bananas. Only smaller areas could be secured by out-s-'cers. as the natives would not lease a section of 205 or 300 acres. PROSPECT FOR ORANGE CROPS. The Government Inspector is at present journeying through the Islands and visiting the various plantations with a view to reporting on the ravages and the best preventive for the fruit fly. He is also inquiring as to the proposals to fumigate the cargo on shipment. .As regards the black aphis, which affected t-fl growth of the oranges, Mr. Cotterell states that this is now very little marked, and the crop has advanced largely of late. -'Throughout the Islands," ha says, "it is generally considered that - very la-gv crop will be obtained next season, and. judging by present indicattoit? and the opinions of planters, it seems saie to rest assured that this will be the case." The want of official communication between tho various islands at more frequent intervals, Mr. Cotterell stated, is being felt considerably, especially amongst the more outlying places. For » years past Colonel Gudgeon has advocated the appointment of resident agentt at Atiu. Mauke, and Mitiaro, which, h.vin_ no European officials, are, in tit) opinion of Mr. Cotterell. at present ia rhfi sanui state of savagery as they were ten years ago. With a number of dther grievances, including the lack of hospital accommodation, and considering the advancement in education of the fl-tivM, largely due to the work of the Lamm Mission Society, it is not surprising to learn t'rat -i movement is well underway to petition the Xew Zealand Government, for a lepresentative. in the Lower Hao"*As an example of the advancement-™ tbe natives in education, it is on record that in one instance the European traders have lo&t 50 per cent of their traaf through the natives undertaking EM** own business in Xew Zealand. i