American Samoa

At the Annual Fono, 1940, of American Samoa, Governor L. Wild gave a review of the social and economic conditions of the Territory. He mentioned the efforts made to grow edible canna in American Samoa, to help solve the food problem of the Samoans, the Department of Agriculture having distributed 60,000 edible canna bulbs.

A marked improvement in public health has been observed, and cases of yaws and trachoma have decreased. On the other hand, tuberculosis has caused more deaths than any other disease.

The income of this Government has greatly decreased owing to the inter national situation, and the expenditures for 1940 will exceed the revenue by approximately $lO,OOO. The estimated budget expenditure in 1941 is $96,000 and the income about $BO,OOO. The annual poll tax of $6.75 cannot be further reduced.

Exports of native industrial products, mats, baskets and fans, rings, etc., have considerably increased in recent years and form an important part of native income. Samoan floor mats are exported in large quantities for use of the American Army and Navy in locations where climatic conditions make the Samoan floor mat desirable.

During 1939, 747 tons of copra were shipped to the United States for sale on consignment. The average price received was $31.36 per ton delivered on the dock at San Francisco. The price continued to drop during the year until the low price of $1.35 per hundred pounds was received for the last shipment. Until the end of the year 1940 the price of $O.BO per hundred pounds will be paid to pro ducers. Unless the market price increases, a new and lower price will be set for the new year, to avoid having to sub sidise copra from the general funds.