Chamber Of Commerce
pp. 54-55 · Read in the full issue
Report
THE Fifth Annual Report of the Chamber of Commerce of Western Samoa for the period ended January 31, 1937, which was read by the President (Mr. G. S. Chisholm) at the annual meet ing on June 9, shows the great improve ment in trade which took place last yeai.
Copra, the main product of Western Samoa, quoted around £l4, c.i.f. London, in January, 1936, rose gradually to £23/5/- in January, 1937 (dropping again to £l5/5/- in June, 1937).
Cocoa, the product second in impor tance, also showed satisfactory improve ment in price and quantity produced, and the position of cocoa planters has eased considerably. While in January, 1936, the cocoa price, c.i.f., London, was around £4O-45 per ton for first grade plantation, the price had risen in September to £6O-62 with a further increase in October to £62-65. Second grade advanced from
£25-30 to £47 per ton, and these prices remained in force till the end of the year.
Bananas, the product third in impor tance, also showed improvement, an in crease of 19,045 cases being recorded as exported during 1936. The total export of 128,045 cases must be considered very satisfactory for an industry only nine years old.
The president, in closing his report, remarked that there is reason to antici pate a satisfactory business year in 1937.
Mr. E. F. Paul was elected President and Mr. D, Butler Vice-president.