Western Samoa’S Trade Recovery

Report of Chamber of Commerce Indicates Improved Conditions in N.Z.’s Mandated Territory.

From Our Own Correspondent

APIA, April 13. fourth annual report (1935) of the Western Samoa Chamber of Com merce at Apia was submitted to the last meeting by the President, Mr. R. G.

Bruce. It was shown that the trade con ditions of the territory have improved considerably and are much brighter than they were 12 months ago.

At the end of January, 1935, the main product, viz. copra, was quoted around £9/7/6 per ton c.i.f. London. It had gradually improved in price during the year until by the end of January, 1936, the figure had reached £l4. It may be recalled that the quotation for April, 1934, was only £7. Local copra prices have increased in conformity with the Home market and this has given a much needed incentive to increased production, the copra tonnage exported being 12,501 tons compared with 8,948 tons for 1934, or an actual increase of 3,553 tons.

The cocoa market has undergone very little change during the year, prices still being extremely low, with quotations around £4O/45 for high grade Plantation Samoan Washed cocoabeans, whilst poorer grades have been selling at £3O/35 on a very weak market. The prin cipal markets for cocoabeans have as usual been America and U.K., whilst small lots have been sold to Australia

and New Zealand. The cocoa tonnage shipped during the year was 576 tons compared with 1,027 tons for 1934, and is the lowest recorded since 1926.

A comparison of the annual cocoa tonn age shipped would indicate considerable fluctuations, and is no doubt brought about by a carry over from one year to another. The date of harvesting the cocoa crop would also appear to vary— seme years the main crop is harvested in December, whilst in other years it is not harvested until January. The large drop in cocoa tonnage shipped is therefore not necessarily a correct criterion of the actual crop.

The banana industry again showed in creased exports, the number of cases shipped being 109,000 compared with 96,225 for 1934, an increase of 12,775 cases.

This figure, however, was some 7,000 cases lower than anticipated.

The following trade figures for 1935 have been supplied by the Customs De partment :

The most evident improvement in the trade figures over the previous year’s figures are the following:—lmports in creased by £42,973, exports increased by £61,181, total trade increased by £104,- 154, excess of exports over imports in creased by £18,208. A very pleasing feature has been the excess of exports over imports, which at £53,541 is the highest shown since 1928, when it stood at £95,622.

It will be recalled that during 1933-34 the Administration remitted 20/- of the export duty on copra in an endeavour to assist the industry. Commencing from March 1, 1935, and immediately after the copra price in London had reached £l2/10/, the Administration saw fit to re-impose the 20/, again bringing the ex port duty up to 30/ a ton. The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce made strong representations to the Administration to reconsider the matter and submitted sug gestions for a sliding scale of duty, but met with no success. Cocoabeans shipped from the Territory are still subject to a refund of the full duty charges laid down in the tariff schedule.

During the year the Administration again submitted to the Chamber for their views drafts of several proposed ordin ances before their submission to the Legislative Council. This action of the Administration has been greatly appre

Excess of Imports Exports Total Exports £ £ £ £ 1930 275,355 284.515 559,870 9,160 1931 164.950 194.447 359,397 29,497 1932 150.902 183,028 333,930 32.126 1933 150.856 170,749 321,605 19,893 1934 93,784 128,117 220,901 35,333 1935 135,757 189,298 325,055 53,541

Exports

Copra Cocoabeans Bananas Rubber tons tons cases to>ns 1930 12,285 1,007 95j867 101 1931 11,062 620 85,225 41 1932 10,879 825 66,715 6 1933 11,526 899 81,983 1934 8,948 1,027 96,225 1935 12,501 576 109,000 25

ciated and many of the suggested altera tions have been adopted. A number of the draft ordinances dealt with by the Chamber during the year are still await ing finality.

With an all-round improvement in the prices of our primary products, the trade prospects for the ensuing year appear much brighter. With copra at its present level, Samoa should be able to look for ward to much more prosperous times. exports will continue to be con trolled by the Administration and addi tional shipping space has been assured.

Owing to a rather severe storm during January this year, the banana crop has suffered considerably in some districts, and it is thought this will reduce ship

ments for some time to come. The price ruling for bananas during the year has remained at 4/6 per case delivered at Apia. It is hoped in the near future to see better prices ruling for Samoan cocoabeans, for despite the present low prices the quality has been well main tained.

The Chamber of Commerce has elected the following new executives for 1936;■ President, G. S. Chisholm;’ Vice-Presid ent, E. F. Paul; Secretary, N. Caldwell; Hon. Auditor, R. G. Bruce; Hon. Solici tors, Messrs. Klinkmueller and Pleasants; Committee, Messrs. I. H. Carruthers, A.

G. Smyth, P. Glover, D. Butler, R. H.

Brown, and R. G. Bruce.