Samoan News

Outlook Bright for Samoa In 1935

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Jan. 17.

WE have just buried the old year and nobody could say that 1934 has been a good year for the residents, European and native, of the Mandated Territory. Still, after all, the end was better than the beginning. Apia shopkeepers con firm that Christmas business was considerably better than for the last few years. Especially on Xmas Eve the stores were crowded with hustling shoppers, eager to procure all that was necessary for the worthy celebration.

The New Year began very auspiciously with a rapid rise in world market price of our staple commodity, copra. Within a few weeks this very welcome increase in the London flotations amounted to more than 50 per cent. Though the local price paid to producers has not been raised so far, a substantial increase of the local rate is expected in the near future. The welcome news has reached us, furthermore, that the large stocks of Samoan cocoabeans in London ware houses have been completely cleared at, under the circumstances, fair prices, and some parcels realised as high as £41.

These facts, coupled with the higher banana quotas for 1935 granted by the New Zealand Government and the regular calls of the Union S.S. boats, on their way back from Vancouver to take banana shipments for the Auckland market, every month, make the economic outlook for Western Samoa in 1935 decidedly more hopeful and promising.

Squally Weather.

The New Year, unfortunately, brought us a spell of rainy and showery weather with frequent squalls. This inclement weather has seriously interfered with the cutting of copra by Samoan natives, and traders, therefore, report business in outside trading stations to be practically at a standstill.

The rain increased to a torrential downpour on January 16, which lasted for two days and Sights. The U.S.S. Co.’s “Waikawa” arrived from Vancouver in the morning of January 16 with over 200 tons of cargo for Apia, and to take away the initial shipment of bananas for Auck land* under the new contract. The rain consider ably delayed the landing of the perishable cargo and the shipping of the bananas which was under the personal supervision of Produce Inspector H.

Newton, who travelled to N.Z. on board the “Waikawa.”

Duke Of Gloucester S Tour.

It is sincerely to be hoped that the excep tionally bad weather, which to some extent nas interfered with the preparations for the approach ing visit of the Duke of Gloucester, will change to a brighter sky and sunshine during the stay of our Royal visitor. The Citizens' Committee is working very hard to ensure the success of the arrangements and with the willing co-operation of Administration and general public an enjoyable time may be safely predicted for the Duke and his party, as well as for the complement of H.M.A.S. “Australia."