NIUE ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 254, 21 July 1920, Page 7

NIUE ISLAND

The Trade Commissioners who visited the Pacific Islands on behalf of the New Zealand Government think that Nine Island, one of the dependencies of this Dominion, should lxi made self-supporting. The island at present is coating New Zealand about ,£3OOO a year. "Wo think it would be greatly in the interests of the natives themselves that they should be stimulated to solf-developmcnt and taught to work out their own destiny under the Government's guidance," state the commissioners., "-We think this could bo done in a way which would not fall heavily on the individual. We are of opinion that the purchase of copra in Niue should be a Government monopoly on a scheme somewhat after the system in vogue at I'ago Pago—that is, t.ho Government call for priccs annnally for the output of copra from the island. The successful tenderer, as in tho American system, would have to pay on the signing of tho contract a deposit of 20 per cont. of the estimated total quantity to be produced, and 15 per cent, advances as tho times goes on. In other words, the successful tenderer would be required to put up from timo to timo all the money , required to pay the natives cash for tne material as it was delivered to the Government sheds. Administration charges, together with, say, or .£5 per ton, should be deducted from tho price paid to the natives, and thoamount so collected used for tho development of the island "