CROPS FROM THE ISLANDS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23415, 23 August 1941, Page 10

CROPS FROM THE ISLANDS

EFFECTS OF STORMS

EXPECTATIONS FOR HEAVY CROP

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, August 22. Although no lives were lost, many ■dwellings were unroofed, banana and coconut plantations were practically stripped, and other native, crops were seriously affected, stated the annual report of the Niue Island Administration, presented to the House of Representatives to-day, when recording the effects of the storm which swept over the island on March 2. The revenue for the financial year ended on March 31 last was £12,580, including a subsidy of £SOOO from New Zealand. The actual expenditure was £12,044, but when depreciation was considered there was an excess of expenditure over revenue of £IO4B. Imports for the calendar year amounted to £19,735 and exports to £20,238, exceeding imports for the first time for some years.

A total of 16,475 cases of bananas was exported, worth £6680 and exports of copra were 441 tons, worth £4236. Most of it was produced in 1939, however, as production practically ceased last year, owing to low prices and lack of rainfall.

The report mentions that the health of the natives has been good. An excess of £10,928-of exports over imports is shown in the annual report of the Cook Islands’ Administration. Experts for the year ended December 31, 1940, were £90,397 and imports £79,469. The export of oranges increased by 73,025 cases and tomatoes rose by 19.973 boxes. Bananas decreased by 13,835 cases. The prospects for the coming season for Rarotonga and the islands were for an exceedingly heavy orange crop, but gales had caused the banana crop to suffer severely and shipments would be greatly reduced.