THE TONGAN GROUP.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 901, 22 August 1910, Page 5

THE TONGAN GROUP.

A SERIOUS.PROBLEM. (By Telegraph— Special Correspondent.). Auckland, August 20. Mr.'lP. A. Wood, of Taurariga,Svho has returned from a lengthy Island cruise, in conversation with a "Star" representative, gave some interesting impressions of tho Tongan and Fiji Groups. He said:— "I spent four weeks exploring the Tongan Group, and gaining all the information I could, and it occurs to mo that there is a' serious problem that the Tongan Government will have to faco if they wish to increase their exports, and consequent prosperity. 'At the present time about seveneighths of their income is derived from the export of copra,■: for which •■ there is' an unlimited demand. The export of, oranges is barred, owing to tho fly disease, consequently tons of fruit are rotting on the ground in every-native • Some other disease has. attacked the bananas. So. that but comparativelyl few are exported, and growers are neglecting them as not worth the trouble of looking after. Pineapples are not a success, and to crown all, and make matters even more serious, disease has now attacked the coconut palms in various parts of the islands. •If no steps are being taken to cope with it, the whole island must soon become infected." Diseased coconuts are allowed to lie rotting on the ground, instead of being collected and burnt, consequently the disease must spread. / "The labour-question is'another serious matter, the natives being too well off and too well-looked after by the Government to make it necessary for them to ■ work. The usual wages are a dollar a day, but then you get very little work done in a . day, and it. is looked upon as a favour if they work for you at all. Europeans should therefore weigh the matter very carefully before embarking.in coconut plantations as 'an investment.' With the failure of the copra industry, the income of the Tongan Government would practically cease."