COOK ISLANDS' TRADE

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 8

COOK ISLANDS' TRADE

PARLIAMENTARIANS' PROBLEM. '. WELLINGTON, March 4>' The Press Association correspondent accompanying- the- touring members of Parliament, writes as follows : What would most help to increase the volume of trade in tho Cook Islands is a problem that is of great interest to the members of Parliament. This question is, of course, being thoroughly investigated by the Trade Commission, but its report will not be available far some time. In the opinion of' the Resident Commissioner, Mr Platts, the first essential is the provision of an inter-island auxiliary schooner, controlled by the Administration, which would bring produce from the more remote islands tu Rarotonga. Equally important is an improved shipping. service between Rarotonga and New Zealand. A measure of relief in this direction has already been provided. The commissioner also considers that the adoption of the Pago Pago system of administrative control of the sale of the whole of the copra output would prove of great benefit to the natives and producers,, and would do away with the handicap on producers in the more distant islands, who at present cannot reach a competitive market. Much care is being given by the Administration at present in regard to packing oranges, and one of the officials is being sent to America to investigate curing and packing piocesses generally. Parliament has voted £2OOO for the erection of packing sheds, and an experimental she*} is now in course of erection. It is hoped that when the curing and packing scheme is in working order oranges may be landed in New Zealand and kept in store when necessary without loss to merchants;