COOK ISLANDS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 44, 20 August 1930, Page 15

COOK ISLANDS

SUEVEY OP THE YEAE

SATISFACTORY CONDITION

A satisfactory condition generally throughout tho Cook Islands and Niuo Island is disclosed by tho annual report which was presented to the House of Eepresentatives yesterday by the Minister for the Cook Islands (the Hon. A. T. Ngata). It was stated that' the Earotongan Treasury showed an excess of revenue over expenditure of £1287 7s 7d, and the Niuo Treasury an excess of £2203 4s Bd.

"The Cook Group is a particularly difficult one to finance," states the report. "The territory consists of fourteen'islands scattered over a very wide area (850,000 square miles). The northern group has little communication with the outer world, and is practically non-revenue-producing, while each island requires separate staffing and other administrative expenditure. Even in the absence of devastating droughts or hurricanes it is difficult for the territory to produce revenue for its ordinary expenditure, and-it is only by a severe curtailment in every direction, by the postponement of. many necessary works during the past two years, that a satisfactory balance-sheet, has been produced. . Such services as education, medical, water supply, consumptive sanatorium, removal of leper patients for treatment 4o Makogai, roads and bridges, sehoolhouses, etc., have necessarily had to be curtailed or held in abeyanco awaiting more prosperous times. . ..' ... -■'....' SLUMP IN COPRA. . "Although during tho year the trade of the island has been well maintained, a very heavy slump in the principal export (copra) has been operating for some time, and must have a serious effect on the finances of the coming year, and no extraordinary expenditure will therefore be undertaken. The health of the people has been good, and the medical officers have traversed practically the whole of the group, an undertaking of some magnitude with only three medical officers. A most pleasing and satisfactory featur* of the report is the uniform increase throughout the whole of the territory of birth* over deaths of the native peoplei. All islands at which the New Zealand fruit-steamer calls have now been connected up with wireless, and the more northerly islands will also bo joined up as circumstances permit. There has been no serious crime in the group, and the small police services have been practically selfsupporting. THE FRUIT TRADE. "Throughout tho year the Maui Pomare has carried out a satisfactory fruit trade with the islands. She has given to Niue the first regular service that island has had, and has opened up a banana trade which the native people have been eager to exploit. The vessel has also been the means of creating a valuable- banana trade with Samoa. During the year a parliamentary committee investigated the affairs of this vessel and reported that, in tho absences of private shipping, tho provision of the Government vessel to carry out the present service was justified. "The service, however, is very severely handicapped' by the number of New Zealand ports of call, which imposes a heavy burden both financially and in the additional time occupied. A reduction of the service to ono North and ono South Island port would assist materially both the island fruit trado.and the service being carriocl oil by the vessel."'-/