COOK ISLANDS FRUIT

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 8

COOK ISLANDS FRUIT

NEW REFRIGERATING PLANT (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 1. Plans were almost finalized for the establishment of a combined central packing shed and pre-cooling store for citrus fruits and other products and a domestic refrigerating plant at the Avarua post of Rarotonga, said Mr R. Sutherland, of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, who returned to Auckland from the Cook Islands by the Matua. Mr Sutherland stated that he had been sent to discuss with 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. The proposed establishment would 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 the long range policy of organization for the Island fruit industry would be incorporated in the scheme. 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 Islands 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 refrigerating plant.