Samoan Bananas.

Quota System Introduced by N.Z.

Apia, Dec. 30.

THE banana trade with New Zealand has been placed on a more solid basis by the introduction of the quota sys tern by the N.Z. Government and ac cordingly the new contract for 1933, which has been awarded to a Christ church firm, is on more advantageous terms for producers.

The Samoan growers had applied to the Administrator to be paid at the original rate of 5/- per case, but the Administrator was not able to grant this request. However, he has fixed the new rate at 3/- until further notice.

The quota for Samoa and Niue to be delivered to Wellington and the South Island of N.Z. is 8,000 cases per month.

Mr. Ken Bolton, the well-known member of the firm of McLeod, Bolton and Co., Island agents, Sydney, sailed on the last “Mataram” for the Solomon Is lands where he will, under a special ar rangement, assist the activities of a gold prospecting expedition that will pay special attention to Guadalcanal and Malaita.

Mr. Gordon Thomas, a well-known resident of New Guinea, and a notable writer on Pacific Islands subjects. Mr.

Thomas, accompanied by Mrs. Thomas, is spending a holiday in Australia, and has been up on the Northern Rivers.

They propose to visit New Zealand be fore returning to the Territory in April.