COOK ISLANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 107, 2 November 1937, Page 5

COOK ISLANDS

FRUIT INDUSTRY

FLANG FOR NEW PLANT

(Ey Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 1

: Plans were almost completed for. the establishment-of a combined central packing-shed and .pre-cooling store lor citrus ; fruits-and other ■< products and a--domestic refrigerating plant at Avarua, the port of Rarotonga, said Mr. P, Sutherland, of'the Department of Agriculture',, ,Wellingt;on, who returned to' Auckland from the Cook Islands by the Matua! . . . . ■ ";. - .

Mr. Sutlierland stated he had' been sent to; discuss with1 officials at the islands a "number, of proposals formulated' by His;? Department following a series of recommendations made by the Parliamentary; delegation which visited the.Cook Islands Group in July' and August., .y.TJie proposed establisHmeht ,wbuld replace the existing seven native packing sheds, which- would; .however,, be retained purely, as .receiving houses." ■•'■•■ . ■■, ' '.

Mr. Sutherland explained that: the present system resulted in a great'deal of waste, not only in fruit, but: also in labour/. The new plant would be under the control of a highly-trained officer, probably, a skilled citrus fruit expert, while a long-range policy of .organisation for ' the island . fruit industry would he incorporated in the schenie.' ' ■ " ' . ,

Mr. Sutherland.' added that, it was the Government's policy to make, the islands as self-dependent as , possible, and he considered that, with the installation of the" new machinery, much progress would, be made towards this goal.' ■ '.'"■ . . ■ \ •'• ■"•■-" • Explaining that the only lighting facilities on the island at present were kerosene' lamps,' Mr. Sutherland mentioned that plans were under consideration, for the installation of an, electricity supply which would' be generated by the pre-cooling and refrigeration plant.