Helps Samoa
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
Expansion of US Naval Base Helps Samoa
Prom Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 1.
THE expansion of the United States Naval Base at Pago Pago (Ameri can Samoa) where work is at pre sent proceeding feverishly, has served to bring the realities —and possibilities—of war nearer to Western Samoa. The wel come decision of US officials to employ a large number of skilled labourers, car penters, painters, blacksmiths, tinsmiths, mechanics and drivers was a godsend to many residents of Apia at a time when employment in Western Samoa was hard to find.
With Uncle Sam spending millions of dollars on defence work in American Samoa, trade and industry in the neigh bouring territory are not dependent on the vagaries of an uncertain copra mar ket, and are therefore booming—and will be so for a long time to come. Apia is also benefiting from this new prosperity by an increased passenger and freight traffic between Apia and Pago Pago; motor launches leave nearly every day loaded with locally-grown foodstuffs, fruit and vegetables, for sale at Pago Pago.