ORANGE JUICE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 219, 12 June 1930, Page 8

ORANGE JUICE

Cook Islands Industry SUCCESS ACHIEVED • Dominion Special Service. Auckland, June 10. The success achieved by the recentlyestablished industry in Rarotonga for the preservation of pure orange juice is a matter for gratification to the Administration, according to Mr. F. H. Ayson, for eight years Resident Commissioner and Chief Judge of Cook Islands, who Is at present in Auckland. A good market has been found In New Zealand, and there Is every prospect of the market being extended. Mr. Ayson, who will spend three months In the Dominion before returning to Rarotonga, said that several thousand gallons of orange juice were preserved last year. The new Industry was of importance to the Islands, because It absorbed a large part of the surplus orange crop and would also find an opening for the use of lemon juice and peel. A great improvement had been effected In the packing of fruit for export to New Zealand, he added. . Success had met the establishment of the district packing sheds which were erected two years ago, and grading machines and engines had been installed with satisfactory results. The use of concrete floors would be fairly general during the coming year. A good deal of useful experimental work was also being done in the agricultural nurseries, and seeds, cuttings an! plants had been distributed in fairly large quantities to the Islands of the group. Speaking of trade conditions, Mr. Ayson said that although a fall In price of the principal export, copra, would be felt for some time, exports were still maintained at a fairly high level. The quantity of copra exported during the past year was 250 tons greater than that exported in the preceding year, but owing to the lower prices received its value decreased by £4423. The orange crops in Rarotonga and Aitutakl were small last season, and the exports dwindled in consequence.