ISLANDS TRADE SLACK

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1933, Page 6

ISLANDS TRADE SLACK

NATURES DOLE ALLEVIATES

Though the local conditions largely prevented destitution, Rarotonga was suffering perhaps more acutely from the depression than most other places, said Mr. H. Bicknell, of Christchurch, who returned from a business trip to the Islands by the Makura today. The orange trees, lie said, were going back through neglect, und though, one or two growers were planting good varieties, the general crops were not what they were. The copra market, iv view of the low prices, was dead. A bright spot was that the \incmployment problem, apart from its effect oiiAlio trades concerned, was not characterised by semi-starvation of (ho unemployed, because largo quantities o£ plantains, bread fruit, and other native. foods were available to everybody, while tho climate made life bearable with .very few'facilities.

Mr. B. A. Scott, who has been touring: with the English cricketers, left on Friday for his home in Manchester I after spending a month's holiday with Mr. G. Holland, of Heretaunga Street, Petone.