COOK ISLAND FRUIT TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 172, 14 April 1908, Page 4

COOK ISLAND FRUIT TRADE.

-Mr. P. Herons, of Christ-church, who has taken an interest in the Cook Islands ever- . since somo of tho islanders came to' attend the .International Exhibition, says that 'tlio: stringent regulation's - in regard to imported fruit are likely, to prove disastrous to the importation of Cook Island oranges. .Three-fourths of tho oranges wo consume, he says, come' from the Cook, .Group, and if; tHo. Department insists oil .enforcing its regulation to keep out'tho fruit -fly . tho "trade will: be absolutely destroyed. _ The fruit fly exists in tho group,and it is not 1 possible to comply with the Agricultural Department's stipulation that a cortificato should be- supplied' sotting forth 1 that no species of fruit .fly is known to exist within one , mile of the orchards' whero the oranges,aro grown.- Tho'Cook Islands 1 aroV not•:wrionely;-;affeetod.-,by tho pest;at present, - but; ■ Mr. 1 Kirk;. ' Government Biologist; says that there is no doubt that it exists in the Wands, .although tho i statement is^ challonged by Air. Horcus's cor- ■■ rcspondonco. Ho suggests, . says. the ■ "Lyttelton (Times,", tliat. they should ■ be..,' treated in the samo way as , ■ any infeotcd New Zealand. An inspector should be appointed undor tho con- ! trOl of tho Agricultural Department to tako - chargo of the orchards, inspcct them, and try 1 to eradicate the pest. As soon as Sir. Her- ; cus knew that| tho regulations would bo on- ' forccd, he communicated withthe.administra- ' tire, authorities of tho Islands; .They informed him that tho Department would not enforce-tho regulations at, present, 'but. that they would probably bo enforced very sopni ' Mr. Hercus feels- that it would bo in the interests of the" people of. New;. Zealand t-b stamp the pest out of tho Islands, and to allow'the oranges to como in, as the fmit is both good and cheap. The "Islands are ad- ] ministered by tho Justice Department.:' He J suggests that it would bo better to placo I tliem under tho Agricultural: Department. J