Samoa-N.Z. Fruit
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
Shipments
Shortage of Bananas
Front Our Own Correspondent.
APIA, June 4.
OUT of the last five banana shipments sent to New Zealand, it is officially stated that three resulted in a loss to the Administration. In no case was it pos sible to obtain sufficient quantity of good sound fruit, for full shipments to be for warded.
Undoubtedly there has been during the past few months a natural shortage of bananas, resulting from adverse weather conditions at the beginning of the year.
But this natural shortage does not wholly explain the small quantity of fruit de livered for export to N. Zealand. When the Administration arranged early in 1935 for intermediate steamers of the Union Co. to call at Apia on their return from Van couver to N.Z. and take shipments direct to the Auckland market, banana growers did not receive sufficient notice of the
arrangement, in time to plant additional areas.
When General Richardson initiated and encouraged the banana industry in Samoa, he, as well as his successors, wanted to create a new source of revenue mainly for native Samoans. European planters and their participation in the banana scheme were only a second consideration and of minor importance. When the political trouble started and the Mau movement was launched, the Administra tion used the banana monopoly to reward Government adherents and punish Mau men by excluding the latter from banana shipments.
It proved necessary, however, to admit Europeans into the scheme to a much larger degree than was intended at first, owing to the natives supplying insufficient quantities of fruit. The Administration had to sell or lease land to a number of European planters specially for banana growing; these banana plantations have now come into bearing and are at the present time the mainstay of the banana export industry.
In spite of the low copra price ruling, Samoan natives prefer to cut copra and do not bother with bananas, which re quire considerable care in spraying, weed ing, packing, etc. The Administration therefore, have had to rely on European planters, who depend solely on the pro ceeds from their banana shipments and consequently endeavour to supply good quality and well packed fruit.
During the months June to September, 1935, banana shipments will be limited to the Maui Pomare and it is hoped that there will be sufficient fruit for full ship ments. The intermittent shipments by Union Co. steamers may be resumed in October next.