Samoa’S Finances

Retrenchment Campaign Expected

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, January 5.

THE Secretary to the Administra tion, Mr. Turnbull, returned by the Maui Pomare, and his mission to New Zealand has, apparently, not been very successful.

There seems no hope whatever of much financial assistance from New Zealand and the Government will have to start a retrenchment campaign in earnest. After the Commissioner of Labour, some more high officials are to be retired, as well as a number of European constables. Furthermore, the wages of Samoan native officials will be cut by 10 per cent. Drastic changes are predicted at the end of the finan cial year, on March 31.

As all possible cuttings and savings will not enable the Administration to balance the budget, import duties are to be raised in the near future.