NIUE ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 118, 22 May 1925, Page 3

NIUE ISLAND

THRIVING FRUIT INDUSTRY

VALUE OF WIRELESS TO TRADE

AND SHIPPING.

(B.J TELEGRAPH.—PEESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 21st May. "The natives of Niue Island are well pleased with the New Zealand AdminU* tration, and are delighted to know thati the Government steamer Hinemba' ■will shortly commence regular trips Between.' the Dominion and the island," stated 1 Mr. G. Morris, late Resident' Commissioner of Niue, who has arrived at Auck« land by the Navua from the Islands.; Mr. Morris, who has completed his terms of office at Niue, was • appointed Commissioner of the island,seven years ago, and has.been stationed.there continuously except for. a period of eighteen months; five years ago as Treasurer at Rarotonga.. "The prosperity of Niue depends almost' solely on its fruit trade," said Mr. Morris. "The natives are eager for trade,, and the news of the wreck of the llama at the Chatham Islands came as a blow, to them: The Eama\ had made several trips between Auckland and Niue.-, However, the decision that the Hinemoawill enter the service has reassured them, and this assurance of a regular shipping: service will undoubtedly make a wonderful difference to the island, already, rich in its growth of tropical fruit, Niue provides ample room for extended culti-. \ation._ Niue, with its wonderful climate, its_ rich virgin soil, and its intelligent natives, is indeed a valuable dependency, and the inauguration of a' regalar shipping service will, no doubt, encourage greater activity and greater industry among the natives. Portions of the island which are now producingnothing should soon be under cultiva-' tion.

_ "A€ the present time," said Mr. Mor-* tis, "there were some 30 miles of good roads on the island, and the Government was providing motor-trucks, which should 1 overcome transport difficulties. In tha past ships which came to Niue for fruit were required to call at three places, bub in future it is hoped to bring all fruifc to the one place with the aid of motortrucks. Fruit "is there in abundance; and the demand is here, and it is only a matter of getting it." The value of the wireless recently in-t stalled by the Government was stressed by Mi-. Morris, who said that previously! Niue was an isolated spot in the Pacific,, depending for news .from the outside! world on the stray ships which called) there,, but now people were -in ■"- touchl with things. Without wireless a fruit trade *was almost impossible, but now] Niue Islanders knew when ships were due* and could have the fruit prepared for, shipping. Generally speaking, the health; of the islanders was excellent, continued 1 Mr. Morris. Last year there were 69 deaths out of a population of some. 3000.. This was the lowest death rate on record.