DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 26 July 1941, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS

COOK ISLANDS’ FRUIT. WELLINGTON, July 25. Requests for increases in prices for j bananas, oranges, and other Island products, facilities for a loan to Rarotongan growers for a banana replnting scheme, and a direction from the Government that all special citrus fruits from the Islands should be sold’ on the open market in New Zealand on a consignment basis, were contained in a petition presented in j the House to-day by the Minister for 1 Internal Affairs (Hon. W, E. Parry),

on behalf of Rurua Rangat’ra. of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, a member of the Island Council of Rarotonga, who is at present'living in Auckland. The petition complains that the Minister for the Cook Islands and the Internal Marketing Division have not yet fulfilled their promises of better conditions for the Rarotongan ,

growers. The petition also states that the growers resent the action of the Minister of Marketing in taking over : the Islands’ special citrus fruits, without consulting them regarding prices, production costs, and Other matters. This action had caused irritation and non-co-operation bn the Bart’of the growers. ;