III.—Imports and Exports.

As already remarked, these products could be exported in much greater quantities, were more labour available; indeed, much is page 51 allowed to run to waste on Rarotonga at present, because of its too great abundance or the want of a good market. For example, tons of excellent coffee could be seen in the plantations, totting on the trees and on the ground, for the simple reason that the price received for it—rod. per lb.—does not pay sufficiently well to induce the natives to gather it. The import duty of 3d. per lb. levied by the New Zealand Customs Department, would, if removed, leave a sufficient margin to stimulate further production. Candlenats grow in great profusion, and hundreds of tons might readily be collected each year. From these nuts a most valuable oil is obtainable; but the trouble of gathering the nuts from the ground and removing the shells is too great to give sufficient remuneration, according to native ideas. What these ideas are may be inferred from the ruling wages paid them for cotton picking, which is two and a half cents per pound, or one half the value of the crop.