PROGRESS IN TONGA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 15, 19 January 1931, Page 5

PROGRESS IN TONGA.

BANANA EXPORT THIS YEAR.

DIRECT STEAMER WANTED

RAVAGES OF A HURRICANE

'• "The Kingdom of Tonga is feeling the world-wide depression," said Dr. L. A. Andrews, of the Tongan Government Medical Service, when he arrived in Auckland by the Tofua yesterday. The price of copra had fallen further, he said, and it was now one-half its ■former value. In addition, Tonga last year suffered seriously from drought, the rainfall being only 31.39 in instead of the usual 80 to 90 inches. There had been an improvement in the outlook since the New Year started, as the result of good rain showers.

Tonga had now taken up banana culture, and hoped to start exporting in September. New Zealand was regarded as a likely market. It was felt that a direct steamer would be essential, because Tonga was too far away for satisfactory banana transport by the ordinary Island service. Speaking of the hurricane which struck the tropic isles in November, Dr. Andrews said that at Haapai, where he is situated, it was not felt severely. The worst damage was at Niua Toputapu (Kcpple's Island), where the < vernmeiit building and wireless station were wrecked. The wireless station at Niuafou, where the recent eclipse of the sun was witnessed by scientists, was demolished.

Dr. Andrews, who has been at the Islands for eight years, is spending a holiday in New Zen.and. He is accompanied by Mrs. Andrews.

Mr. A. Cocker, a King's College old boy, and a well-known planter at Nukualofa, stated that the November storm affected about 10 por cent of the crops in Tonga, but mostly in' the outlving islands.