NIUE ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1933, Page 17

NIUE ISLAND

INCREASE IN PRODUCTS

PROGRESS OF THE PEOPLE

.Captain W. M. Bell, Besident Commissioner at Niue Island, who has been on a .short visit to New Zealand, was a passenger lay the Maui Pomarc; which left for Samoa • and Niuo. on Tuesday. Prior' tb'his."departure, in a statement to "The Post," ho emphasised the importance to ihe islands of the steamer connection afforded by thd Maui Poinare. Y\. \ , ", Niuo and other outlying islands, he said, in the Lpast had had to depend upon tlio uncertain visits' of sailing vessels. The former irregular service had made it impossible for Niue to market its produce, which consisted chiefly of bananas. "I think it is acknowledged by those who are familiar with the tropical fruit market," said Captain Bell, ''that the Niue bananas are superior to the fruit arriving from other places. The reason that is supposed to be that the soil is-not .so deep as in other islands, and there- is not the tropical rainfall of other places, the result being that the fruit is slower in maturing. These factors make for superior equality of fruit'when it comes to the market;' The higher priees';paid for Niue kumeras is a testimony to the estimation in which they are held by the public. Limes and lempns are now being marketed, and it is confidently expected that pineapples will very soon become a substantial part of Niuc's export trade. Pawpaws have a high pepsin content, and it is in-

tended next year to send an , expert* mental shipment to New Zealand.":

Captain Bell said thero wer», no cattle on Niue Island, and- the pig* had deteriorated in quality. He desired to express his thanks to Waidnu /Piggeries, to Roach. Brothers, Matangi, and to Mr. Austin Carr, Morrinsville, who had generously donated pedigreu pigs to Niue t , thus introducing new I blood to tho' strains already on tbo island. There being no cattle, poik was one of the chief meat foods of Nine. Thoie i\us no liesh milk available, and until tho growth of grass enabled cattle to be impoited, dependence on fic*>h milk would have to bo upon. .1 few goals which were being 'taken to the islands on the present trip of tho Btcamci

The health of the- natives, said tlia Resident Commikiionei, was particularly good. During tho past rear tha biiths mirnbeied 73 and the deaths 25. Tho population of the island is about 4000. Thcro was very little yaws'and hookwoim, common diseases .in tha Pacific Islands, and there were no cases of leprosy at present. Captain Bell spoke in high terms of praise of the industry of the natives, who are Polynesians, lie said it was a strange fact that there weie no chiefs on Nine, tha people all being on ono level. E»<Jli village had its native councillor, who, on request, tendered advice to the Resident Commissioner. The natives w*rf ioyal and law-abiding. - -"

The pupils of the Petone Memorial Technical College 'continue to be ia demand for various positions. The principal, Mr. A. SfcFadyen, report* that during the second quarter 19 girlt and 23 boys left tho school —practically; all to take positions.