Samoan Products.

Cocoa Prices Are Sustaining Trade.

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, April 30.

AFTER the double rise in the copra price during February had given a stimulus to cutting operations by the Samoans, the recent drop in price has had the opposite effect and things are very quiet at present.

It seems that the copra output for the current year, owing to ample rains, will far exceed last year’s crop. But if the price continues as low as at pre sent, the total value of the copra pro duction will be even less than last year’s low total.

That the natives are disinclined to offer bananas for shipment to New Zealand, and have a large portion re jected, is shown by the last shipment per “Maui Pomare,” when the boat had to be despatched without a full cargo.

And this, when there are bananas gal ore, all over the islands!

It remains to be seen, whether the new time-table of the “Maui Pomare,” which gives us regular monthly ship ments with a much shortened stay in N.Z. ports, will improve matters, as is hoped.

The cocoa crop is being brought in now and seems to be better than ex pected. As the price of cocoa keeps up satisfactorily, this should bring relief to the European producers and also enliven trade conditions in the terri tory. Contrary to what is customary, the main revenue of the country, as well as of the Administration, comes at present from European settlers and not from natives, as in former years. This, of course, is a result of the low copra price.

A topic very much discussed at pre sent in Samoa, is whether or not, the N.Z. Government will follow Australia’s example in New Guinea, ani lease out the remaining cocoa and coconut plan tations, now run by the Government as N.Z. Reparation Estates, to local Euro peans, of whom a large number are de sirous of leasing plantations, and who possess the necessary experience. Such a measure would, at the same time, re lieve distress and unemployment in Samoa, which exist here to a regret table degree at the present time.