COOK ISLANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 269, 10 November 1923, Page 11

COOK ISLANDS.

wumtat garden or wtrw ZEAIAJfD. MINISTER'S OFFICIAL VISIT. (By Telesranh.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Sir Maui Pomare, Minister in charge of the Coot Island*, who. with Lady Pomare and Mr. D. ,T. Gray, UnderSecretary for the Department, -pent over five weeks in the group, returned to-day thoroughly convinced- that although the islands mill suffer from inadequate communication, there is growing prosperity, and good feeling between the natives and the European resident* and Administration. ''The whole success of the group depends," »a : d Sir Maui, "on suitable shipping. jWe could double the output of products I with ease. We could turn Rarotonga into New Zealand's winter garden, supplying- the Dominion during the -winter .months wiih tomatoes and other vegei tables which only grow here in summer. I am particularly pleased with the reI ception of the official party, which it is jno exaggeration to say was a wonderfully fine exhibition of goodwill on the j part of the whole community. The Kesident Commissioner, Judge Ayson. is a, popular and successful officer, and the complete harmony which prevails among • all sections is now quite obvious. ! Fruit Trade Difficulty. "As for commercial conditions. P.aroj tonga, in view of the heavy trade depression felt throug-out the Pacific, jIK in a good flourishing condition. The great, bulk of its exports are oranges, bananas and tomatoes —nearly all raised by native planters, who work on progressive lines. The leading chief has on one of his plantation* no less than .'IO,OOO tomato plants, well staked, and under cultivation equal to the best New Zealand practice. The greatest obstacle to development is still lack of reasonable steamer communication with the Dominion. As an example, we found that owing to the long interval between the 'Frisco mail steamers, which constitute the most important link with New Zealand, and give the South Island its most direct supplies of fruit, two planters alone lost; between 500 and 1000 cases of tomatoes which had to be allowed to rot or turned to pig food. The orange season was over iv Rarotonga, but was still in full awing in the outer islands. The steamer Waiiaka, which provides communication between the Cook and Society Groups and Auckland, is on her way to Auckland j from Aitutaki witih 10,000 cases of prime oranges, loaded at Aitu, Mauke and Aitutaki. The difficulties of loading at \ the tvo former islands are really extra- j ordinary. Fruit has to be shot across '■ a fringe of reef in canoe-, the ship lyin» out in the open." Fortunately at Aitutaki there is a passage through the reef, which enables native w_ale boats to transport the cargo to the waiting steamer outside. The natives are sucti fine stevedores that on this occasion the Wanaka loaded 8300 cases of oranges in less than eight hours, each esse baring to be transported over a mile from tbe shore. So energetic were the natives that tbe ship's slings sometimes failed to keep ia.ee.' '"We found the copra trade somewhat distressed, duetto trie low prices, and also difficulties of transport. Copra is brought to Rarotonga in schooners, and there is not the same opportunity of direct shipment to English and Continental ports which Samoa enjoys. Wireless Extensions. '"From the point of view of tiie Ad- : ministration," continued Sir Maui, -we found the most pressing need is wireless communication with t_e outer islands, I or the lower Cook Croup, and as a result | of my visit arrangements will be made fort-Wi_h for the installation of wireless on tbe islands of Aitutaki and Mangaia. lt is proposed to employ native operators. Three scholarship boys, educated at St. Stephen's, Auckland", have been selected for training in the Wellington wireless _o_.ol, and" it is hoped to have the plants working before nest fruit season, opening in April. Natives and Education. "Education was another important matter to receive attent'on, and decisions 'of far-r-a-hincr importance were reached with tlie local administration, which will be submitted for Cabinet's approval. In the past education in the northern Cook Irfnnds. which lie 800 miles due north of the main group has teen left entirely to missionaries. Jt is proposed that the Administration assume responsibility for .education iv this area, thus linking up Ui« whole of Xew Zealand's Pacific islands vi ith the Dominion education system. I intend to submit at the earliest opportunity some requests from European residents for the Governments consideration,' the most important b<:ui--r a remission of the copra, export tax."