Samoan Trade.
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
Figures Show Big Fall
Small Cocoa Exports.
From Our Own Correspondent.
APIA, March 20.
THE Trade Returns for 1931 have been just published by the Administra tion. As expected, they show a large fall from the figures for the pre vious year.
Small quantities of beche-de-mer, rubber, kola nuts, pineapples, etc., were also exported dur ing 1931.
The very considerable drop in cocoa ex ports has been caused by the adverse weather conditions of last year. The cocoa price, fortunately, has kept up well, in fact, at time of writing it shows a tendency to rise, the supply of Samoan cocoa not being up to the demand.
The copra figures, also, show a drop in the quantity exported and especially in the value.
The decrease in quantity exported is very appreciable in bananas and the figures for the new year will probably show a considerable drop in value for this product.
The total decrease in value of ex ports amounts to £87,248.
It is chiefly owing to the large drop in imports that the Administration has to face a deficit of about £30,000 for the financial year ending March 31, 1932.
Undoubtedly, imports have dropped still further during the first quarter of 1932 and even the increase in import
duties, coupled with far-reaching re trenchments wherever possible, will be insufficient to wipe out this deficit altogether. For this reason Adminis trator Hart has sought the co-opera tion of the newly-formed Chamber of Commerce to devise ways out of the quandary.
A satisfactory feature of the trade figures is that exports exceed imports by about £20,000.
Exports.
1930. 1931.
Tons.
Value.
Tons.
Value.
Cocoa 1,007 £61,294 620 £35,284 Copra . . 12,285 166.221 11,062 109,220 Bananas Cases. . . 95,867 £44,259 Cases. 85,225 £39,022 £271,774 £183,526
Year 1930 1931
Imports.
. £275,000 164,950 Decrease . . £110,050