ISLAND FRUIT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20850, 5 October 1937, Page 12

ISLAND FRUIT

CONTROL SYSTEM PRAISED By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, October 4. A bright outlook for the future of the Government fruit control system at Rarotonga and a belief that its limits will soon be extended to embrace fruit other than oranges, is held by Mr D. G. Ball, of the Education Department, Wellington, who returned by the Matua to-day, after two months’ inspection of the Cook Isltands schools. "I will say, however,” added Mr Ball, "that the islands’ orange trade definitely needs better shipping facilities. In the outer Islands of the group I drove over oranges because there was no adequate transport for them.” He added that the islands were a rich orchard, which ought to be fully developed. Under the guidance of the Resident Commissioner, Mr S. J. Smith, the Agricultural Department had been stiffened up and a trained fruit expert brought from America. He said that although it was four years since a Departmental schools inspection was made, he was very pleased with the conditions, especially the new syllabus introduced 18 months ago. The main idea was to keep intact native culture. Stress Is laid on the native language, crafts and songs.