“NZ’s TROPICAL PROVINCES”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29224, 7 June 1960, Page 9

“NZ’s TROPICAL PROVINCES”

Book On Island Territories

Many New Zealanders regard the Cook Islands, Niue Island and the Tokelaus as the places where oranges and bananas come from and where indolent islanders lead a lotus eater’s life lolling beneath palm trees on sunny beaches.

A publication by the publicity division of the Tourist and Publicity Department. “New Zealand’s Tropical Provinces.” will do much to change such views. Outlining the history, geography and social and economic conditions of the islands, the book which is well illustrated, gives a picture of lands poised between ancient customs and modern economic pressures.

The book emphasises the need for New Zealand to appreciate its responsibilities to the islanders who are just embarking on a transition, slow and hesitant at present, from a primitive pattern of life to inevitable integration with modern civilisation. The efforts of the New Zealand Government to guide and encourage the islanders to participate in their own local affairs and the work done by the Government in this sphere is shown.

For students of the development of the Polynesian islands, the book provides interesting data ‘on the economic progress of the islands both in agriculture and the infant secondary industries of clothing and the manufacture of paua-shell jewellery at Rara tonga. The statistics on population, agriculture. geographical features and the social and educational advances show the progress that the islands are making in their goal of being self supporting. Though as the book says, the islands are not likely ever to be entirely self supporting and will require a programme of continued assistance from the New Zealand Government