COOK ISLANDS STORM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 63, 17 March 1943, Page 4

COOK ISLANDS STORM

DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS AND CROPS

(P.A.) Wellington, March 16. The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser stated that he had received advice that Raratonga and some of the outer islands of the Cook Group had experienced a very severe storm. There had been no loss of life, said Mr. Fraser, but a considerable amount of damage had been done to buildings, and orange, banana and native food crops suffered heavily. Numerous native dwellings had been demolished but the Administration was finding accommodation where necessary, and had in hand the work of clearing roads. The Administration was also rendering assistance 4 the repair and rehabilitation ot damaged buildings. Inquiries were immediately instituted with the view ot ascertaining whether there was any danger of a food shortage in th* stricken islands and the Government would take the necessary steps to ensure the despatch of food supplies should such a situation develop. The loss of a large proportion of the exportable fruit crops *as a severe one to the inhabitants of the Cook Islands, continued Mr. Fraser, and it would adversely affect supplies of oranges and bananas for the New Zealand market. The Government had been relying on the Cook Islands for oranges, particularly, to relieve the shortage in New Zealand, but from information to hand it appeared that the quantities available for shipment from the Islands had oeen very materially reduced. Every endeavour would be made to assist in the reparation of storm damage in the Islands and to bring up 'to New Zealand the undamaged portion of their citrus crop.