ISLAND DEFICITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 27, 31 July 1940, Page 13

ISLAND DEFICITS

COOK AND NIUE

Expenditure in the Cook Islands exceeded revenue by £28,261 during last financial year, the report on the administration of the islands, which has been presented to Parliament, states. To the end of 1939 the value of exports was £56,689 and of imports £73,559, giving an excess of imports of £16,870. During the previous year exports totalled £73,184 and imports £74,789.

Last year the export of oranges, owing to a light crop, decreased by 39,250 cases, and tomatoes decreased by 4582 boxes. Bananas increased by 1056 cases.

There was a deficit of £6087 in the finances of Niue Island for the year ended March 31 last. This was met from the Reserve Fund.

Imports during 1939 totalled £15,459 and exports £11,554, a total trade value of £27,013, compared with £31,425 during the previous year. The fall was due to decreased shipping facilities during the year.

A total of 16,481 cases of bananas, valued at £6579, was shipped, the figures for 1938 being 18,656 cases and £6503 respectively. Owing to the low price, the production of copra was small and for the first time no copra was shipped. One hundred and twentythree tons of kumeras, valued at £2529, were shipped.

The sale of baskets increased considerably, 1736 dozen, valued at £1510, being shipped, compared with 436 dozen, valued at £400, in 1938.

Altogether 1042 dozen hats, valued at £568, were shipped, as compared with 1043 dozen, valued at £483, last year.