51

A.—4

when vessels are returning from war service, shipping should become normal. Without an adequate steamship service between the Group and New Zealand the export trade of these islands cannot be developed, and this is the crux of the whole position. We are informed that the present shipping service in the fruit season is inadequate. It is suggested that if in the fruit season the Union Company sent two ships per month, of about the carrying-capacity of the " Talune," instead of one as at present, sufficient cargo of fruit could be obtained to give each a full load. It is also suggested that one steamer should run to Auckland, the other to some southern port, say, Lyttelton. By this means transhipment charges would be saved, and the fruit would be delivered to all parts of New Zealand in a minimum of time and at less expense. The ship would, however, have to call at two or three islands at regular intervals (regularity is essential), as was done prior to 1914. The " Flora," which was doing the Cook Islands trade, has recently been replaced by the " Talune," a more suitable vessel with a greater carrying-capacity. We are of opinion, however, that until growers are assured of a regular service, and can in consequence make preparations for a larger output, two ships of the size of the " Talune " could not be profitably employed during the forthcoming fruit season. There is no doubt there is room for a great development in the fruit trade, and the position should be carefully watched ; but for this year at least, and provided the " Talune " is not used for carrying phosphates from Makatea Island or oranges from Tahiti, the present service is, we think, adequate. Complaints were made that too great a proportion of fruit reached New Zealand in a bad condition owing to bad stowage and want of ventilation. A faster boat, properly equipped for carrying fruit from the Cook Islands, will probably be required in the near future. New Zealand takes the whole of the fruit grown in the islands, and growers are entirely dependent on the New Zealand market. In 1917 165,000 cases of fruit were exported, while in 1918 150,000 cases only were exported. It is claimed that had shipping been available 250,000 cases could have been exported in 1918. No doubt owing to the rise in the price of copra a number of island products, such as coffee, candlenuts, and lime-juice, have been neglected. The export of coffee in 1910 amounted to 58,400 lb., in 1914 to 31,600, in 1918 to 17,920; candlenuts in 1910, 45 tons, when the exportation entirely ceased, because the price paid to the Native planters was, they considered, too small when the labour of gathering and shelling the nuts was taken into account. The shell is so hard that no machine available will deal with it. The Natives had to break each separate nut with a hammer. The Administration is now trying to find a commercial use for the nuts. It obtained an analysis from the Dominion Analyst last year, and in pursuance of his advice has sent a hundredweight to the Royal Colonial Institute, London, for further testing and examination. Lime-juice fell from 7,230 gallons in 1906 to 500 gallons in 1918. Perhaps it is natural for the Natives to pay more attention to the easy and highly remunerative task of gathering coconuts than to the growing of coffee, candlenuts, and lime-juice, which require infinitely more troublesome and continuous work. Coconuts, " the consols of the Pacific," are so easy. The Natives only have to dig a hole in the ground, plant the nut, keep the land round the tree fairly clean for two or three years, and in the fullness of time (seven years) the nuts fall off. They are gathered, and either sold as they are or split up and the kernel taken out, .dried in the sun, and made into copra. The wants of the Native are few ; these wants are easily supplied ; and when the price of copra is high a few hours' work per day will suffice to buy all the necessities required ; the rest of the time —there is the shade of the tropical vegetation and the gossip of the village. Many people will not blame him. It is, however, a fact that the most virile nation in the world is the nation which has to work, and work hard, for a living, and the most virile Native in the southern seas is the one who has to labour most for the necessaries of life. So when we suggest that the total expense of administering these islands should be borne by the inhabitants, it is with the conviction that it would ultimately be in the best interests of the Natives themselves that they should rely on their own labours for their own advancement rather than on the labour of others.