Samoan Cocoa.

Record Crop Expected.

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, January 20.

THE cocoa market in America as well as in England continues depressed, though sales are reported from London of Samoan cocoa at a rate of up to £60 per ton for selected parcels of first grade.

Stocks are still high, and the demand is very small. A large parcel, sold some time ago to an American factory, re sulted in a claim by the buyers, who alleged that the cocoa had a taste or smell of ham fat and therefore was un acceptable. This allegation must be considered wholly unfounded, as the cocoa came from various sources and had been cured in different ways, never coming in touch with any ham fat or similar stuff.

The Administration’s estimate of the 1932 crop was correct, as 825 tons were grown. As considerable new acreage will come into bearing soon, future crops, if given favourable weather con ditions, should pass the 1,000 ton mark and eventually break previous records.

The damage done by the recent blow to the cocoa crops is considerable, but the ill effects will be bearable, if we get through March without further blows and too heavy a rainfall.

The future, in any case, looks much brighter to cocoa planters, owing to the considerable saving effected by the wage reduction of Chinese plantation labour from 3/- to 2/- per day, which will be put into force on April 1.