Fruit Shortage
p. 40 · Read in the full issue
Result of Samoa’s Bad Weather
From Our Own Correspondent.
APIA, April 11.
PUNCTUALLY, and true to Samoan tradition, the wet season, which has been very severe, terminated on March 31. The first days of April brought us a welcome change of weather with bright sunshine, cool easterly trade winds and clear, cold and starry nights with occa sional refreshing showers of rain.
The strong winds in January and Feb ruary blew down many banana plants on European and native plantations, which resulted in a considerable shortage of exportable fruit. Thus the last Maui Pomare cargo was short by over 2,000 cases. The Indien, expected here on April 17 to take about 4,000 cases of bananas for the Auckland market, may be unable to obtain a full cargo.
The continuous torrential rains and blows since January last have also done a lot of damage on cocoa plantations.
Cocoa planters have had a very small and unsatisfactory crop, with little to expect during the next six months. This prevents them from taking advantage of the improved market prices ruling at present for their produce.