Samoa's 1940-41 Report

IN the Annual Report ol Western Samoa, recently presented to the NZ Parliament, the accounts disclose a deficit of £2,020 for the year ended March 31, 1941. Revenue decreased by £23,436—fr0m £131,416 in 1939-40 to £107,980; and expenditure was pared by £25,648 —from £135,64)8 to £llO,OOO. The accumulated surplus now stands at £39 853.

Trade conditions declined slightly, though there was a record export of bananas which compensated somewhat for the depressed copra market. Copra production, incidentally, fell from some 12,500 tons to about 5,750.

Statistics show a healthy rise in the native population—there now are nearly 58,500 Samoans.

“There has been no change in the fun damentals of native life, which are little affected by prevailing world conditions,” says the report. “The lack of a copra market brought its hardships to the Samoan people, more particularly in those districts which do not grow bananas for export. In these districts the lack of money with which to purchase trade goods has necessitated a closer adhesion to native ways of life.”

Mr. Robert Dean Frisbie. well-known American writer, is at present absent from his home at Pukapuka, Cook Is lands. Before he left, he posted to his American publishers the manuscripts of

two new books. His novel “Mr. Moon light’s Island” has had a very good sale in U ® A *