Extraordinary Differences

Sly Grog In Samoa

Extraordinary Differences in Fines

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Aug. 17, 1943.

117ESTERN Samoa continues to enjoy W unparalleled prosperity and a peaceful and undisturbed existence in the midst of a war-torn world and a turbulent Pacific.

However, where there are lights there are also shades, and there are some thorny problems disturbing the peace and equanimity of this small community.

What we are suffering from is not want, or war sacrifices, but some inefficiency and the vagaries of official economic and social policies One problem, which agitates public opinion, and which is common to other Island Territories and New Zealand and Australia, is the “sly-grog” problem.

Owing to the great ease of manufacture of grog and the enormous profits derived from its illegal sale, it is, of course, diffi cult to cope with or to completely sup press the nefarious trade.

Some time ago it was reported that the Chief Judge of the High Court of Apia had issued a stern warning to offenders, pointing out what a great danger, to civilians, particularly children, and Allied servicemen is the reckless driving of intoxicated drivers. Severe punishment was threatened in future.

In fact, a large number of local-born Europeans and Samoans have been sentenced to short or long jail sentences recently. But when a certain Chinese restaurant-keeper, Leung Wai, who is believed to have accumulated a fortune from his trade, was charged with being “an occupier of premises where intoxi cating liquor w*as found,” and was convicted, he did not receive a jail sentence, and escaped with the nominal fine of £lOO.

On the same day, a Samoan, who was found carrying a bottle of “bush-gin” and a local-born European (Euronesian), who had sold a bottle of “bush-gin,” were each sentenced to four months’ imprison ment.

This is regarded as injustice by Samoans and Europeans alike, and the Administration is openly changed with protecting the prominent liquor-seller or exerting influence in his favour, while heavily punishing similar offenders of no commercial importance.

The matter has been brought—un successfully—to the attention of the Administrator by the Hon. A. Stowers, MLC; and the Samoan representatives, assembling shortly in the Fono of Faipule, are also taking the matter up and asking explanations from the Administration for this apparent discrimination in favour of a former Chinese coolie, who is now one of the richest men in the Territory.

There is general condemnation of the “bush-gin” trade in Samoa, but it is de manded that equal punishment be dealt out to every offender, be he European, Chinese or Samoan, or whether he is rich or poor.

Price Fixing

AMONGST the commercial community and the general public, another source of irritation is the inefficient handling of price control in Samoa.

In February, 1943, the Government created a new “Price Control Board” and fixed the maximum profit which mer chants and traders were to charge, at 30 per cent, on landed costs.

At the same time they specified the items

t 0 be i^ luded within the term “landed cost.” The 30 per cent, profit, however, was not extended to foodstuffs and other essential lines, for which special bedrock prices were fixed previous to the new organisation. These were changed over from time to time owing to fluctuations in overseas prices, freights and insurance costs. Long lists of these foodstuffs and essentials are published every few days in our only medium of publicity, the daily wireless sheets of the Administration. Up to date hundreds of different items with fixed prices have been announced—for example, the same line of vegetables has been announced numerous times for the vanous brands which are imported into the Territory. Thus an enormous amount of tune and work is expended. This time C ,9 U , easily be saved if a fixed profit of slightly less than 30 per cent, were permitted for these lines.

Further, the numerous regulations and price orders are not enforced or con-

trolled at all. The authorities relv on the buying public to report cases of violation of the price control orders and thus only very few cases are brought to the notice of the authorities, while vio lations of the price laws are widespread particularly in country districts, where goods are scarce, and the Samoans are willing to pay any price to get what they want. Consequently traders have never had such a prosperous time as the present.

There also seems to be a considerable muddle in regard to the control and allocation of imports. For instance, the Administration exercises a practical monopoly over the importation of rice into the Territory, and this monopoly has now led to a total lack of rice supplies for months. The Administration main tains that rice is not needed for Samoans, but only for Europeans and Chinese. At Present, there is, in consequence, no rice

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available for Europeans, children, or sick people. There is also a shortage of flour, biscuits, soap, and other essential lines.

It is reported that the Administration, through the New Zealand Government, has denied that there are any shortages of flour, rice and other essentials in the Territory, and that, in consequence, the Australian Government has not found it necessary to allocate the comparatively small quantities essential to Samoa.

There is certainly some muddling going on somewhere, and the criticism is directed against the Administration for not looking after the interests of the public.