COOK ISLANDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1923, Page 3

COOK ISLANDS.

AN OPTIMISTIC REPORT

A marked improvement in the finale, e and trade ot tho Cook Islands is ic(orded. Fur the last twelve months the total trade of the group shows the substantial increase of £,0.19A over that of the previous year. I'm; most gratilving feature of this result i> Hmt it includes increased exports of Irmt and produce to the va I m ol £•><>• 111 ■ in a coininenia i'V a.tlm bed to the annual renort <-f the Cook Mauds ami Nine administrations presented to the |!nuse. the Minister states that the balance ol trade has now turned most definitely in favour ol the islands. h“ Treasiuv halane<-sheet also shows tlmL the linani ia! year emied with a surplus of C-JS'i-J. and thuL the administration i, in possession of ns-i ts to the mine ~ii the most conservative basis of old tCH,(UP. From every pent of view. therefore, comments the Minister, rrespects for the future are most encouraging. in fact, tlm only scrums obstacle ■ a a rapid expansion ol production ami trade is the existing poor facilities lor transport. Lack of means m eommunication "in s.mu ot • ■ important of the outer islands ol lower group also imposes a 'cvcie i. - Kver-V elfort "ih he made to n- „ c've the latter I'.i-n 1 , ility by the mslallation of win less tcleidmnes at the i-lamls of Aitutak. and Alangaia. I Conk Islands had a vote on tne estimates tor this inn-pose tor mere tmin a •.ear. but up to the present it has not able to secure reliable cqmpimmt. has been very disappointing tan. wireless cniiimunicalion was not es a f V.Tr«VV ' 1,1 |,I- ui> the island with =’ Rat aotonga radio station beloie n.

"‘“ni"''Minister says that the new <0n-......-I entered into for a st.-amei so, - i ;t .tween the Dominion and .simi f sin \'■ »rt;i nt ovonfc ni tlio m H ssri:ir»|i3X*s medical' JindiHouni and other administrative dillicultics. The renort states that tncie m o t ) reason to believe that a satMact. position " ill lu> mmnlnim** cll .' , ;.. m iii«r vt»ar. The onnnro crop *> - oot ‘ ami nlautcrs are worKing extreme • hard on their banana and tomato plantations. The effort of the poor demand for copra in 1 .ondon and cl mi 1 markets however, with the ■■.msi.il.t i t low price paid locally, is making useh Alt.