Self-Contained Pacific Territory.
pp. 37-38 · Read in the full issue
How Economic Depression Affects
Hereunder are reports and letters, dealing with the condition of the Protectorate of Tonga. Persons who are interested in economic affairs —and particularly those who are studying the effect of the world-wide depression upon States and territories —will find much that is illuminating in these articles.
THE Tonga Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting in Nukua lofa on February 8.
The meeting unanimously adopted the report, covering the year 1931, sub mitted by its president (Mr. J. H.
Young). The report is as follows; I have pleasure in submitting a brief review of the commercial conditions of the Kingdom for the year ended De cember 31, 1931.
Chamber of Commerce.
During the year six meetings were held and have been well attended.
Matters of general interest to the commercial community have been dis cussed, and recommendations made to the Government on several points con nected with trade, which have been met in an amicable spirit.
There still remains, however, the question of finding a basis for the bet ter working of contracts with natives, and for the recovery of smaller debts.
Trade.
Both imports and exports during 1931 show a very heavy decline from the already low point reached in 1930.
The figures for the past eight years have been: —
Copra.
The total exports for the year 1931 amounted to 8,929 tons valued at £80,361 f.o.b., being 5,205 tons and £89,249 in value less than the previous year, which was a bad one.
The year just ended has been the worst year for trade within the mem ory of the oldest members of the com mercial community, and very heavy losses have been incurred.
Copra exports for the past eight years have been:—
a fall in value over the period of 73%.
Prospects for the 1932 crop are good, owing to seasonal rains and warmth, provided always there is no blow dur ing the present hurricane season.
Government Expenditure.
The figures of Government expen diture, as they appear in the Estimates
passed by the Legislative Assembly for the past eight years are as follow:—
An increase over the period of two per cent., or, in other words, practic ally the same expenditure on an export value of £80,361, as it was in the year 1924, on an export value of £297,487 — a condition which would appear to re quire radical adjustment.
The following is a statement of the entire production exported by the Kingdom during the year 1931;
The Government of Tonga budgeted for £71,315 for the current financial year. If this amount be realised, there would be left £11,500 for free circula tion in the country, a miserable enough pittance surely to support the native population, the Missionaries and the commercial community.
Bananas.
A serious attempt has been made and with considerable success as far as this end is concerned, to establish a trade with New Zealand. The object is to export regular monthly shipments to that Dominion, and so far three shipments have gone. Difficulties, how ever, have arisen in regard to the ar rivals of the fruit in Auckland, each shipment clashing with the arrivals by the Tofua; also the handling and pack ing of the fruit is not satisfactory to the buyers.
Until these matters are rectified the export of bananas cannot be regarded as a steady source of income to this Kingdom. If and when the trade is established there might possibly be £10,000 per annum in it for this coun try. To bring Tonga back to the pros perity of 1924, however, we require a further £200,000.
Shipping.
The following are the figures for the past eight years:
Imports. Exports. Total. 1924 £232,600 £306,658 £539.258 1925 258,322 290,115 548,437 1926 227.882 263,198 491,080 1927 157,783 235.391 393,174 1928 211.907 287.668 499,575 1929 198,078 259.090 457,168 1980 148,306 183,204 331.510 1931 81,170 90.596 171,766
Tons.
Value. 1024 14,533 £297,487 1925 13,750 280,386 192<; 13.992 255.156 1927 11,252 225,044 1928 15,671 282.083 1929 16,860 252,911 19.10 14.134 169,610 1931 8,929 80.361
Inward.
No. of Vessels.
Tonnage. 1924 . . . . . . 32 87,250 192'. . 77,704 102G • • • • 34 81.12 1 1927 . . . . . . 29 68,606 1928 79,158 1929 . . 83,039 1930 83,245 1931 . . • • • • 27 64,621
Year.
Amount. 1924-5 1925-6 1926-7 1927-8 1928-9 1929-30 1930-31 1931-32
Articles.
Quantity.
Value.
Copra 8,929 tons 0 cwts £80.361 Fungus 29 .. 13 972 Bananas 2,191 cases 693 Coconuts 15 packages 1 Hides 106 hides 61 Live Stock 11 pigs, 1 turkey 31 Oranges 49 cases 9 Pears 1 case Pineapples 475 cases 93 Produce 1.911 packages 593 £82,817
The Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank Messrs. Burns, Philp (South Sea) Company Btd., for the use of their offices for its meetings.
1924 ..
Outward.
.. .. 31 83,762 1925 . . .. .. 37 74,067 1926 .. . . . . 32 81,271 1927 . . .. 25 58.252 192'"- . . .. 32 79,092 1929 .. .. 34 81,243 1930 79,778 1931 . . . . . . 28 68.246