How To Balance The Samoan Budget.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Feb. 19.

THE Administration is faced with the difficult task of balancing the budget and compiling estimates for the coming administrative year April 1, 1933, to March 1, 1934.

With the difficult exchange and the reduced spending power of Europeans and natives alike, imports by merch ants will be further curtailed and revenue from all sources will decrease again from the low level of 1932. It is apparent, however, that ways and means to economise further in Admin istration expenditure have by no means been exhausted.

The best means to that purpose offers itself in the very costly and unwar ranted hospital system. The total cost of the Government Hospital in pre-war “German” times amounted to about £2,500 per year, and the health of natives and Europeans was at least as good as nowadays. Several private medical practitioners were licensed at the time and the whole medical and sanitary system worked smoothly and without complaints from natives or Europeans. Even allowing for double the expenditure on the medical service (£5,000) approximately £15,000 might be saved —sufficient to remove all financial troubles of the Administration and avoid the imposing of further taxation on the suffering taxpayer.

There are, of course, several other highly paid Government officials, whose services at the present time could be dispensed with. There is an Inspector of Health and Sanitation, whose duties are undefined and seem to be very light. This work could easily be taken

over by the plumber employed in the Public Works Department, or by the private licensed plumber at a small remuneration.

There is, furthermore, the Harbour master and Pilot. With quite a number of qualified mariners in the place, who would welcome a small addition to their revenue, it is hard to see why a highly paid official is employed in this capacity.

The Native Department, also, which for years has not functioned normally owing to the Mau trouble, could be appreciably reduced. Officials like the Native Secretary and the Beetle In spector, who appear now to have little useful work to do, could be, at least temporarily, dispensed with. Accord ing to recent reports, public servants will be objects of a further wage cut of 20 per cent, as from April 1, 1933.

These economies would enable the Administration to save at least £15,000 to £20,000 and to balance the budget for the ensuing year.