Samoan Affairs.

Prices and Politics in 1932.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Dec. 28.

AS another year nears completion, a re view of the economical and political situation does not offer much en couragement.

The copra price is still keeping at a low level, though the crop for the year is satisfactory as far as quantity is con cerned. The cocoa growing industry, however, has to contend with continu ally dropping price values and we are fast approaching the time, when the cocoa planter will have no profit left.

Most, if not all, of the 1931 Samoa cocoa crop is unsold and stored in America and England with little prospect of sales in the near future.

The only silver lining in the black clouds is a slight advance in the banana price from 2/6 to 3/- per case, an nounced recently by the Administration, due to a more advantageous contract with a Christchurch firm of buyers for 1933 and based on the quota system in troduced by the New Zealand Govern ment in regard to banana imports.

A trial shipment of pineapples re cently shipped to N.Z. by the “Maui Pomare” brought good prices and re sulted in a repeat order for another 100 cases, which unfortunately arrived too late to be filled by the incoming boat.

A profitable trade could be developed in

this line. It is too early yet, to predict the chances for coffee growing and the creation of a market for this product in N.Z.

Politically there is still a feeling of uncertainty and doubt. Mr. Nelson’s re turn is announced for February, but even the most enthusiastic adherents of the Mau movement do not believe that Mr. Nelson will return to Samoa in the near future. The great mass of the Mau followers are getting tired of the luck less and seemingly hopeless game of waiting for developments; time is ap parently fighting on the side of the Ad ministration. It is possible that 1933 will see the end of the Mau movement.

Christmas Business.

Though business in Apia stores was very dull during the few weeks before Xmas, the festive season, which was marked by the announcement of “cheap sales” by nearly all the Apia business houses, brought a pronounced revival of business and, to the surprise of the business community, business was much better than anticipated. The Samoans, as well as the Europeans, attracted ap parently by the bargains offered, seem to have dug out their hidden savings and spent them freely for seasonal pur chases. The much suffering business community cannot be begrudged the satisfactory business and it is to be hoped that the upwards swing will con tinue and remain a permanent feature of the coming year.

Postmaster’S Busman’S

Holiday.

The public are indebted to our popu lar postmaster, Mr. Dunwoodie, for open ing the post office during the Xmas holidays for the distribution of mails from Australia and New Zealand and the despatch of correspondence.

“Ontario’S” Visit.

Our American cousins from T'utuila apparently find Apia an attractive week end resort, as the frequent visits paid us recently seem to demonstrate. The “On tario” came over on December 10 and remained for a few days, while an of ficial party led by Governor Landenber ger visited at Government House, Vailima.

These American visits are very wel come. The “gobs” are free and generous spenders and, at the present rate of ex change, certainly get full value for their money.

Children Entertained.

A very successful and enjoyable func tion of a novel character was held at Apia Playhouse on December 16, when over 200 European children were gathered for a fancy dress ball and spent a happy time with dancing, sing ing, games and other pastimes till 10 p.m. to the music of the Apia Orches tra. The children enjoyed themselves thoroughly and the fun culminated in the distribution of toys to the young sters, who were addressed by the Hon.

A. R. Cobcroft and who called upon them to give three cheers for Mrs. A.

G. Smyth, the president of the commit tee and all those, who had generously contributed to the success of the evening.

Host Holbrook Entertains.

The annual conference of Holbrook (Australia), Ltd., on December 16, was attended by repre sentatives from all parts of the. Commonwealth.

After the activities of 1932, and the plans for 1933 were discussed, the indoor staff were the hosts at a luncheon at which only the products of the Company were used. The conference con cluded with an inspection of the factories, and the following day was spent by members of the staff and sales force on the Harbour.