Samoa in Good Economic

Heart

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Dec. 19.

rpHE purchase by the New Zealand ± Government of 4,000 tons of Samoan copra, to be used as pig fodder in the Dominion, not only clears all the accumulated Reparation Estates’ copra out of our stores here, but also removes all other accumulations, so that for the moment our position in relation to copra is very good. The transaction affects seven copra-buying firms, as well as the Reparation Estates.

Prospects look bright for a good crop of cocoa this season, and the present local price ranges from £35 to £4O per ton.

There has been a record export of bananas from Samoa to New Zealand this season—22s,ooo cases.

The combined effect of the New Zea land purchase of copra, plus the good market for cocoa and bananas, has much improved the economic outlook here.