FRUIT TRADE WITH COOK ISLAND^

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 19

FRUIT TRADE WITH COOK ISLAND^

UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES MR W. S. OOOPEIPS INTERESTING ADDRESS. “It has been a .surprise to me to ■find how, little .New Zealanders know about the Oook lslands.” Thus Mr W„ S. Cooper, resident administratin' in the (island of Mauke, in the Cook group, for a number of years when addressing members of the Toe H upon “The Discovery and History of the <!odk Islands.” 'v Mr Cooper, after briefly enlarging ; qpon the romantic discovery of the principal islands of the Cook group by Captain Cook himself, gave a vivid description of the most beautiful Harvey Island, known aa the twin island. and which contains a lagoon of 'many exquisitely coloured waters. Like most islands of this group, Harvey Island is uplifted from a ooral isle. The speaker subsequently told of a uumber of interesting and quite often amusing experiences concerning his life aud duties in 'the primitive Mauke Island. Regarding the question of fruit .transport to the Dominion, Mr W. S. Cooper said: “The fruit is lying wasting there in enormous quantities, and it is simply a question of suitably landing it >n New Zealand. It is safe to say that 90 per oent. of the Cook Island fruit is from native production <in thfeir own plantations, and sold by them direct to the traders, with whom keen controversy exists.”