Dissolution Anticipated.

Samoan Reparation

Estates

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, March 10.

THE General Manager of the Samoan “N.Z. Reparation Estates” is leav ing by the "“Maui Pomare” for Wellington.

Though nothing is given out offici ally regarding the purpose of the trip, it is known that drastic changes are intended owing to the large deficit of the estates incurred during the current year. A high Government official only recently has stated that New Zealand committed a grave blunder in not dis posing of the estates years ago.

The re-organisation of the estates after the report of the special commis sion in 1929 and the appointment of Mr. Golk as general manager, though greatly improving conditions, could not counter-balance the devastating effects of the drop in copra prices.

It seems the time has come to cut up the estates into allotments and lease them out to local residents. This would be, at the same time, a relief measure to enable a good number of settlers to

make a decent living, which they are unable to do at present, and would, secondly, distinctly benefit the Admin istration through rents paid by lessees, where at present they do not obtain any financial gain. Furthermore, it would save the New Zealand Govern ment from further losses. The mer chants would benefit by handling the produce of the new plantations and selling more goods to individual planters. In fact, every section of the community would profit by the disso lution of the Reparation Estates.

The decision of the New Zealand Government is, therefore, awaited with keen interest. The N.Z. Government is striving desperately to balance the N.Z. budget and it is hard to believe the Cabinet to be willing to support a losing venture by further financial grants.

The deficit of the Reparations Estates will be somewhere near £40,000 for the financial year ending March 31, 1932.