Guinea
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Progress Of New
Remarkable Increase in Trade Turnover
gTATISTICS made available dur ing the month show that the Territory of New Guinea, under the stimulus of gold and copra prices, plus a growing export of coffee and cocoa, is threatening to displace Fiji from the proud position of being (on official trade statistics) the most prosperous colony in the Empire.
The revenue of the New Guinea Ad ministration for the year ended June 30, 1936, was £419,919, and the expendi ture £425,793. This compares with previ-
The accumulated surplus is now about £40,954.
Exports were worth £2,573,251, 8f which Australia took £1,950,240; and the imports were £1,290,788 (from Australia
The extraordinary growth in the trade turnover is due, of course, to the develop ment of the gold industry, and (more recently) to the recovery in the copra industry. The following figures tell a
really remarkable story. Just when copra sank to a ruinous level, in 1933-34, gold production increased enormously and saved the Territory.
Population is now: European, 5881; Asiatic, 1523; natives (counted), about 500,000. Natives in the uncontrolled areas may number (in addition to the 500,000 counted in the controlled areas) anything up to 400,000. Non-indigenous population
Expenditure, during the year, increased in all government departments, except district services and native welfare.
Indentured labourers in the Territory, on June 30, numbered 36,927, and planted areas of estates totalled 95,748 hectares. There are 370 public servants and 627 mission aries; of this number 374 missionaries are Germans.
Mr. W. J. Crowther, Treasurer and Col lector of Customs in Western Samoa, com pleted his term of office in the Mandated Territory in October. With his wife and two sons, he returned to New Zealand by the Maui Pomare on October 15. Mr. R.
A. Malone is the new Treasurer of Samoa.
Mr. Templeton Crocker, who with a party of friends has been engaged for some time in scientific research work in the South Seas on board his yacht Zaca, arrived at Apia, Western Samoa, on Octo ber 12. After a few days in the capital, the party left for Savaii. The Zaca pre viously visited Samoa about six years ago.
ous years thus: — Revenue Expenditure £ £ 1923 . 259,286 250,431 1928 . 364,580 331,296 1932 . 306,072 282,404 1933 . 321,917 321,567 1935 . 388,177 367,513 1936 . 419,919 425,793
£542,052).
Comparisons: — Imports Exports £ £ 1924 485,634 718,535 1928 811,832 1,471,026 1932 779,397 1,108,619 1933 912,365 1,581,2J2 1934 924,316 1,766,198 1935 948,404 2.340,624 1936 1,290,788 2,573,251
Gold And Copra Exported-Value
Copra Gold £ £ 1928 1,176,040 .. 256,216 1929 933,769 .. 179,433 1930 864,358 .. 96,338 1931 716,543 132,239 1932 618,298 .. 398,939 1933 543,906 .. 933,940 1934 283,329 .. 1,367,616 1935 361,413 .. 1,897,244 1936 761,309 .. 1,704,498
at different periods:— European Asiatic 1895 203 .. — 1910 687 .. 555 1917 818 1922 1489 .. 1424 1928 2400 .. — 1932 2905 .. 1457 1934 4129 .. 1424 1936 5881 .. 1523