Samoan Notes

Price Of Copra

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, November 20.

AT the time of writing the London copra price is reported at £ 14/2/6, a substan tial rise during the last fortnight or so.

As, however, the exchange is adverse, the pro ducer here has not benefited so far and the local price is not raised.

Bananas For N.Z.

By the last Maui Pomare and by the Waiohapu, over 12,000 cases of bananas have been shipped to the South Island of New Zealand and Auckland, respectively. The Tofua, next week, should lift another 4,000, and there is a possibility that before the end of the year altogether 24,000 cases will be shipped. The price, however, from the next Tofua shipment on, will be reduced from 5/- to 4/- per case to the producer. This compares with 4/- per case paid in Tonga and 3/- per case in Fiji.

Suicide Of Samoan Girl

Following on a trivial altercation with her Samoan family, a young native schoolgirl hurled herself from a high cliff at Papauta, near Apia, down into a gully. She was found some time later by a boy, still alive, but with the lower part of her body frightfully smashed. The girl was taken to the hospital but died shortly after admission. In a letter left behind the girl announced her intention of taking her own life.

Several cases of suicide amongst Samoans have occurred in recent years, though suicide was practically unknown amongst these natives formerly.

Mr. O. F. Nelson

In the October issue of The Pacific Islands Monthly, Mr. O. F. Nelson strongly protests against a statement made oy your corres pondent regarding an attempted boycott of his competitors’ trading stations by the Mau.

He terms this statement “a personal attack,” and wants to know the origin of the report.

Mr. Nelson, who is very impulsive and sen sitive to a degree towards any criticism of his methods, though he himself levels very strong criticism against his adversaries, cannot pos sibly reny facts, which are known to all the business community of Samoa. During the attempted boycott, copra deliveries, as well as cash sales, in the outer stations of Messrs.

Burns, Philp and Co. and Messrs. Morris Hedstrom Ltd., decreased very considerably in the strong Mau districts. Nobody has said that Mr. Nelson or his instructions were res ponsible, but, without the slightest doubt, some of his employees were. Employees of the same firm were supposed to nave blundered in connection with the alleged transmission of Mau money to New Zealand.

Your correspondent holds the highest opinion of Mr. O. F. Nelson’s personal integrity and bona fides, even though he does not share his political methods and views. Mr. Nelson has borne very heavy sacrifices in his fight for the cause he believes in, and there is no possible suspicion that he has done so for personal gain. It is only fair to pay Mr.

Nelson this tribute.