Samoan Producers

Facing a Lean Season

From our own Correspondent APIA, January 17.

NO change for the better can be reported in the economic situation of Samoa since last report.

The N.Z. Government has shown little sympathy and no inclination to give some active assistance to the hard-pressed pri mary producer of Samoa. A planters’ meeting a few days ago decided to ap proach again the N.Z. Government, through Mr. Goetz, the President, at pre sent on a N.Z. vacation, and appeal for assistance to the plantation industry, threatened with complete ruin. The pros pects of success are not very bright.

Cocoa is still at £12/5/- a ton and/or an advance of £10 per ton on consignments.

Copra has reached a new low level with £7/12/6 per ton on the London market.

Samoans refuse to cut at the present rate of ¼ cent per lb., while Europeans are effectively prevented from doing so by the low price, which does not even cover the actual cash expenses required for cut ting.

The only bright spot on the dark Samoan horizon is bananas. But the monthly quota of about 7,000 cases is in sufficient to give the industry a satis factory outlet. The day after the “Maui Pomare” had left with a full cargo, appli cations for 10,000 cases were received. A steamer with twice the capacity of the “Maui” could easily be filled. The quality of the fruit is very high indeed and favourably commented upon by the N.Z. buyers. The outlook for a new market in Vancouver is not considered encouraging.

A large number of trading stations are being closed all over the group. Em ployees are being dismissed and retrench ment is the order of the day. The num ber of unemployed is steadily growing among Europeans and, in the circum stances, it is a bit difficult to maintain a cheerful attitude.