Discontent in "Prosper

Not Enough Meat

Discontent in "Prosper ous Samoa"

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 10.

OAMOA is prosperous, and at the O present time, probably less affected by war-time conditions and limita tions than other Pacific Territories.

However, a few minor matters have stirred public opinion—one of them the present acute meat shortage. Normally, there is a sufficient supply of fresh meat, locally killed and produced on the New Zealand Reparation Estates and other cattle ranches.

But the situation has changed dras tically since a large number of restaur ants and “Hamburger” shops opened about a year ago. These shops are using a large proportion of the meat available and supplies to householders are con sequently adversely affected. Delivery of meat has been restricted, by order of the Administration, to once weekly—a dis tinct hardship to large families. These restaurants also draw heavily on the local egg and vegetable supply. A cer tain amount of meat is imported from New Zealand—but this is limited by the small refrigerating space available on ships these days.

Public opinion is that the public should have first call on fresh meat and that the restaurants—which cater onlv for Allied servicemen who are, after all, nrovided for in other directions—should be supnlied only when the householders’ needs have been satisfied.

The Administration has been asked to take steps to stabilise the position.

Wave Of Minor Crime

THERE is an alarming increase in the sly-grog trade. Europeans and natives alike, tempted by easy money and big profits, are manufacturing “bush gin” and “fa’a mafu” (home-brewed beer) and find no difficulty in attracting customers.

As a direct result of imbibing this home brewed fire-water, there have been car accidents wherein several people werh killed and others injured.

Arrests, and convictions with jail sen tences, have not decreased the traffic: the nefarious business goes on, and there is public clamour that stronger steps be taken to put an end to it.

Smuggling is another offence that appears on the High Court roster at almost every session; thefts and breaches of the curfew come next in order of fre quency. Samoa generally has been astonished by a statement of an Admin istrative official recently in New Zea land, that there was very little crime in the Territory. His statement is certainly not borne out by the fact that the Apia High Court made a record collection of fines in 1942 —and expects to beat that record easily in 1943!