COOK ISLAND TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 19663, 16 September 1927, Page 3

COOK ISLAND TRADE

BAD YEAR EXPERIENCED EFFECT OF STORMS [Fsou ODE rARLIAMEXTAET tt=3POKTBR.] ■WELLINGTON, September 15. The export of bananas from the Cook and other islands last year was extremely poor, and copra showed a drop of nearly 1,000 tons on the previous year, being just about halt a normal year’s output. This was due to heavy storms, Rarotonga being the worst sulferor of all the islands of the group. This information is contained in the annual report of the Cook Islands Department, tabled iu the House to-day. The value of the imports was £154,473, and of the exports £1:38,588, showing an excess of exports of £4,115. For the previous year the figures wereimports, £1:30,009; exports, £151,939. During tho year 109,068 cases of oranges and other citrus fruits, 30,766 cases of bananas, and 72,087 cases of tomatoes were exported. It will be some twelve months before tiro islands entirely recover from the effects of the storms, and the prospects of the banana and copra trade for the current year are not at all encouraging. Our growers are planting heavily tins season in tomatoes, and it is to be hoped that the season will bo a good one, in order that we may make up some of our losses in other directions. As to the steamer services, it is anticipated that the mail steamer will meet requirements df the arrangement to reserve space for 10,000 cases on each ship all the way from San Francisco is adhered to. In tho last annual report reference was made to the unsatisfactory cargo service, but for the coming season the Union Steam Ship Company has effected considerable alterations and improvements to the Waipahi in order to make her suitable for fruit carrying. If she proves satisfactory, then a grievance of exporters which has existed for a great many years will have been removed.