Samoa's Trade In

1940 Banana and Cocoa Exports Replace Copra

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, May 8.

ALTHOUGH the copra market has been depressed, most Pacific Terri tories have been able to maintain their export trade position by marketing other Islands produce. Samoa, for in stance, exported, in 1940, a record number of bananas and sales of her cocoa (mostly European-produced) were the highest for 20 years.

The 1940 trade figures have just been issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Western Samoa and they show: —

The figures give a good indication how Samoa’s banana trade has progressed since the Banana Scheme was introduced in 1928—the present production is about tenfold and the value over seven times as great as in that year. Three-quarters of Samoan bananas exported are supplied by natives.

The London price for Samoan planta tion cocoa rose from £52 per ton early in the year to £57/10/-, but this increase was partly offset by freight rates and war risk insurance rates rising. The United Kingdom and America took the bulk of the cocoa exports.

Most of the copra produced went to Mexico, where the ruling rate fluctuated between 1.85 cents per lb. and 1.55 cents.

Production was much smaller than in former years. New Zealand at the end of 1940 bought the whole of the stocks on hand for use as pigs’ feed. The Ad ministration remitted portion of the copra export duty during the year (the tax was completely abolished in February, 1941).

Rubber sent abroad was grown solely by the NZ Reparation Estates. Exports under the heading of “Other produce’’ comprised hides, papain, pawpaws, avo cados, tomatoes and curios.

The following table shows the destina tion of Samoan exports for 1940 (1939 are given for comparison):—

Imports into Samoa during the year fell by £29,000 compared with 1939 mainly the result of the native copra growers’ reduced spending power. New Zealand supplied the largest quantity of goods; and although quantities were lower all around than last year, other countries usually sending merchandise to Samoa retained their proportionate share. Australia continued her almost one way trade with the Territory—selling over £34,000 worth of goods and taking only several thousand pounds worth of Sa moan plantation products. Japan and Canada, to whom Samoa has been a

good customer for several years did not buy any of her produce.

Imports came from the following countries: —

In the Chamber of Commerce’s report, Mr. I. H. Carruth'ers (president) points out that trading conditions in 1940 were difficult—costs and freights increased, surcharges of 15 per cent, on British and 25 per cent, on foreign goods were imposed on the basic import duties, and shipping services were curtailed. Thus, he states, last year’s trade figures standing by them selves might give the impression that Samoa had feared better in 1940 than in 1939, but that was not the case.

Major C. A. Swinboume, OBE, District Officer in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, was recently in Suva, Fiji, seek ing medical advice. He is a former Fiji official, having served there from 1909 until 1915, when he went abroad as officer in charge of the First Fiji Contingent.

He joined the G. and E. Service in 1920, after returning from the war.

Mr. Cecil Saunders, general manager of Australasian Petroleum Co. Pty. Ltd,, and Dr. J. R. Burnett, a director of the com pany, returned to Australia at the end of May. after inspecting the APC drilling site at Kariava, in Papua.

Mr. C. W. G. Fox has resumed duties in Wau as Warden of the Morobe Gold fields in New Guinea, after having spent a period of leave in Australia, accom panied by Mrs. Fox. Mr. A. Fry, Inspector of Mines, who was Acting Warden while Mr. Fox was away, is now due for furlough.

1939 1940 ‘ £ £ New Zealand .. . . . . 62,498 58,738 Australia . . 38,113 34.198 Gt. Britain .. .. . . 24,476 21,495

U.S.A

. . 20,157 19,460 Japan . . 10,873 11,278 Canada 8,444 4,091

Year Imports Exports 1939 £194,736 £220,409 1940 £165,453 £221,733 Compared with the previous year, exports were:— 1939 1940 Bananas, cases 199,905 225,885 value .. .. .. £74,965 £84,706 Cocoa, tons .. ., . . . 650 1,801 value .. .. .. £25,152 £75,193 Copra, tons .. 12,536 5,644 value .. .. .. £108,078 £44,004 Rubber, tons .. 48 61 value .. .. £4,509 £7,930 Other produce £1,167 £1,334

1939 1940 £ £ New Zealand 84,305 106,706 Gt. Britain 39,569 52,224

U.S.A 33,981 41.297

Mexico 25,200 25,663 Australia 1,681 2,134 Unspecified (mainly European) 30,082 3,709

M. Henri Bonnaud, director of Etab lissements Ballande, Noumea, recently returned to New Caledonia by Clipper from U.S.A.

Mr. B. G. Edgell, formerly of Pak Plantation, Manus, New Guinea, is now a pilot-officer in the Royal Air Force, stationed in Egypt.

Mrs. D. Hartley, of Wau, TNG, recently left for Salamaua, where she now is manageress of the Hotel Salamaua.