FOOD OUTPUT OF ISLANDS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27426, 12 August 1954, Page 5

FOOD OUTPUT OF ISLANDS

WARNING GIVEN BY COMMISSIONER “CROPPING LAND LYING IDLE ” (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) RAROTONGA, Aug. 10. The Resident-Commissioner of the Cook Islands (Mr G. Nevill) warned today that the Maori planters on the group must get down to better land cultivation and cropping. He told a Legislative Council meeting that throughout the scattered islands of the group, which were tied generally to a soil economy, “imported rubbish” was rapidly replacing good quality native foods. Cropping land was lying idle, he said, while New Zealand subsidies were buying an inferior type of food with bad results to the health of the Maori population. “Prosperity is of doubtful value if, in getting it, we desert pur native food economy and become dependent on imported tinned food, biscuits and lollies,” he said. “This is indeed happening.” Mr Nevill, who is president of the Council, made these criticisms at the opening session after the Minister of Island Territories (Mr T. C. Webb) announced measures designed to give the 15,000 Cook Islanders a greater share in their government. Mr Nevill made an appeal for support for a programme that would return planters to more balanced cropping. He said the Administration, even at high prices, was unable to purchase sufficient native root crops for Maori patients in the sanatorium and hospital. After a reference to the Govern-ment-backed citrus replanting scheme, which is expected to increase the orange output from about 40,000 cases last year to 300,000 by 1965, Mr Nevill said many young Maoris preferred to let hired labour do the work on their citrus plots while they awaited the profits. -