A.—3

There are no secondary industries of any consequence, with the exception of an orange-juice factory in Rarotonga to take care of the by-products of the main orangeculture industry, and a clothing and footwear factory. Natural timber resources are limited, confined to the larger islands, and sufficient only to meet the needs of the people there. Fish are in fair supply as a supplementary food, but in quality and quantity the available species are not suitable for exploitation for commercial purposes. 21. Land Tenure Most of the land, apart from that used for Administration buildings and public works, is held bj the Natives as " customary land " and passes from one generation to the next according to Native custom and usage. Disputes and claims to customary land are determined by the Native Land Court. As alienation of customary land is prohibited by law, the land remains in the family group and thus is perpetually available for "the production of food crops for the family. 22. Marketing Oranges and copra, the two main crops exported, are purchased at prices fixed by the New Zealand Government. Tomatoes are purchased by the trading firms for sale in New Zealand at a time when the market there is bare of this fruit and prices are high. As the only regular shipping service is with New Zealand, practically the whole of the trade of the Cook Islands is with New Zealand. • - 23. Agriculture Further progress was made in Rarotonga with the re-establishment of citrus plantations, and a total of ninety-eight plots, covering an area of 82 acres, had been planted at 31st March, 1948. Sufficient applications are in hand to ensure that the full area of 100 acres envisaged in the scheme will be planted by the end of next March. Much of the work had evolved on the Fruit Control Department, which ensured that, irrespective of the owners' interest, all plots were properly cared for. Cover-crops were used extensively and turned in periodically by rotary hoes. Inspection of the plots has revealed that they are, generally speaking, very well advanced, and in several cases exceptionally so. Provided care and attention is maintained for another two or three years, it can now be predicted with certainty that large and increasing quantities of fruit will then become available for export. An additional spray machine was purchased during the year to cope with the expanded spraying programme. In Aitutaki a total of fifty-eight plots had been planted by 31st March, 1948, and further plots were awaiting planting. Work on the plots suffered during the year through lack of skilled labour and supervision, but a programme to bring plots up to the standard required is now being carried out. Additional planting will then proceed. A rotary hoe is in use in Aitutaki for cultivating. Orchard Instructors are being trained in anticipation of the extension of the citrus-replanting scheme to Atiu and Mauke in the coming year, and it is expected that one or more Instructors in general agriculture will be appointed to develop, inter alia, experimental and demonstration areas. Extensive nurseries have been established in Rarotonga to provide the young trees required for the replanting scheme. At 31st March there were six of these with a total of ninety-one thousand plants in various stages of growth. Due to lack of expert supervision, the nursery already established in Aitutaki has not proved entirely satisfactory, and additional plantings have been made in Rarotonga to meet requirements of the outer islands.

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