COOK ISLANDS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18550, 27 November 1925, Page 8

COOK ISLANDS.

EXPORT OF FRUIT. HAMPERED BY INADEQUATE SHIPPING. (SPECIAL TO "THE TEES?.") WELLINGTON. November 2G. Judge H. F. Ayson, Resident Commissioner of the took islands, is at present in Wellington. He says tho islands are making progress, but there is dissatisfaction because of the limited space allowed for tho island fruit on the mail steamers coming to Now Zealand. "If the Islands are to bo self-sup-porting, the volumo of their exports must |»e increased." said Mr Ayson, "and at present tho growing of bananas and tomatoes is more or loss a speculation. The space available in tho mail steamers depends largely on the quantity of goods uidoaded at Tahiti, and that is nearly always an unknown quantity until the ship arrives. "It is also suggested that there is faulty distribution of tho fruit in New Zealand—either that or New Zealand is not able to absorb largo quantities of tropical fruits. Anyhow, the fault seems to bo more with tho New Zealand fruit merchants than with tho Rarotongan traders." Judge Ayson mentioned that on tho whole, tho health of tho people in tho Cook group was satlsfaetjry, and the population was increasing. A dental clinic,, for the treatment of children in particular, had recently been established at Rarotonga, and two natiro dental nurses -were being sent to New Zealand for training. Extensive additions and alterations to the hospital at Rarotonga were nearing completion, and I>r. S 'M. Labert, of the International Board of Health (Rockefeller foundation) was at present making a health survey of the Cook group, and paying particular attention to hookworm, yaws, and malaria.