COOK ISLANDS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 119, 12 January 1932, Page 5

COOK ISLANDS

(Press. Assn. —

HAPPY NATIVES USUAL CONTENTMENT DESPITE ECONOMIC DEPRESSION AND LOW PRICES ADMINISTR AT OR' S VISIT

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

WELLINGTON," Monday. "ImSpite of the fact that the Cook Islands are suffering from the economic depression, there is the usual eontentment and happiness among the natives," said Judge Ayson, resident Gommissioner for the Cook Islands, who arrived in Wellington this morning by the Makura. Judge "Ayson, whose headquarters are at Rarotonga, is a New Zealander and is on two months' holiday visit to the Dominion. Judge Ayson (said the price of copra was on a very low level, producers receiving only one farthing per pound as against the normal price in Rarotonga of approximately lid tp 2d. The orange trade was also in. a precarious position owing to competition from Australia. There was a widespread agitation on the part , of the Cook Island producers for a customs duty to give a reasonable measure of protection in order to eaualise to , a certain extent the uilfair competition. "The wisdom of New Zeajand's policy in not allowing the natives of the Cook- Islands to sell their land has been clearly shown during the present depression," said Judge Ayson. "All the natives have freehold land with their own dwelling houses, in respect of whieh they have no charges to pay; not even a land tax. ; As they can raise all neeessary food crops, such as kumera, taro, yams, coconut. etc., and keep fowls and pigs, and fish abound in Ihe s^a around the islands, it may be seen that the lot of the natives l-vintr in these conditions, in a climate which is almost perfect, is an enviable one,at the present time at any rate." Judge AySon said that despite the fact that the administration staffs hhve been cut down within New Zealand all essential services such as health, education, etc., have been carried out satisfaetorily.