COOK ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 250, 18 July 1931, Page 22

COOK ISLANDS

Finances and Trade RAROTONGA FRUIT Conditions in the Cook and other islands during the post year are reviewed iri the annual report of the Cook Islands Department, presented to Parliament. The report states that the financial depression is manifesting itself in the territory and that Copra, the mainstay of the people, is practically unsaleable in the World’s markets. , » , “From time to time Cook Islandfc producers have appealed to the Government for protection against the heavy importations of Citrus fruits hud bananas from sources outside of the Dominion s torntories,” saya that section of the repott dealing with Rarotonga. “At present New Zealand is Importing from foreign, countries citrus frfiits to the value of approximately £75,000, this being about ohe-half Of the total importations from outside sources. Australia is coming into the market with extensive new citrtis plantings and is able to swamp the • New Zealand market at will—indeed, there is a danger that Australia will be using New Zealand as a dumping-ground in order to keep up her domestic prices, to the detriment pf our own island trade. Bananas olso are imported from Tahiti. Norfolk, Australia, and in large quantities from Fiji; while Tonga repotted to be preparing to enter the trade with large shipments. Given reasonable protection and suitable shipping facilities our own territories Would be able to provide New Zealand with all citrus fruits, orange juice, bananas and tomatoes requited, and the islands would to a greater measure become self-sup-porting.*’ . ■ ' Rarotonga Finances.

The Rarototigan Administration states that by the exercise of the strictest economy and the holding-Up of all works other than those that were essential, the vCar closed with a credit balance of £ll9l/3/10. Receipts amounted to £38,847/2/-. and payments to £3 (.851 13/7. Revenue' included grants from New Zealand amounting to £17,480, to enable those services which are bOvOhd the resources of the local Treasury to be carried but—e.g., education, medical, anil wireless. For tile year ended December 31. 1930. the value of exports was £109,438 (1029, £124.486); and of imports, £103,468 (1929, £106,835). showing an excess of exports of £5970. With the exception of the year 1921, the total value Of trade—£2l2,9o6—was lower than for any year since 1913. which can be attributed to the low prices that have ruled for Copra and citrus fruits. Trade of Niue. In the report Of the Niue Island Administration it is stated that the financial year closed with a credit balance of £353/14/0. 'The finances of the island had been crippled not Only by the visitation of four cyclonic storms, which devastated the growing crops, food-supplies, and house® of the people, but also by the fact that the world market for copra had so depreciated aS to render the product almost unsaleable.' By the strictest economy the total expenditure was kept down to a minimum. Receipts amounted to £15,006/13/10. and payments to £16,357/1/5. which reduced the cash balance of £5026/2/3 brought forward from the previous year, and which had been accumulated with so much difficulty. Revenue included grunts from New Zealand amounting to £4556, principally on account of education and medical services. Imports for the year totalled £18.630 (1929, £19,107), and exports £15.87, (1929. £22,20(1). The year had beeil n inirticularly unfortunate one for Niue. Severe drought conditions prevailed over the first half of the year, resulting in heavy loss of crops, especially native foodniipplies. __________