Fewer Dollars

Samoa Returning to Normal

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Jan. 6.

WESTERN Samoa’s boom prosperity is now definitely waning. Apia merchants, restaurant-keepers, en tertainers, curio-sellers, and other “dollar beneficiaries” are already complaining about diminishing returns, owing to the decreased spending power of Europeans and natives.

There is less war-work, less laundry and less purchasing of curios; and the prospects ara that, owing to the Pacific war moving to remoter regions, things will become worse—or rather, return to normal, in the near future.

Samoans have received a warning to clean and replant their food plantations, as otherwise they will be faced with a serious food shortage. At present, a plentiful breadfruit crop is providing food, but this will not last long.

Remarkable Effect On Revenue

Dollar-prosperity in Western Samoa —now, alas, ended boosted public finance to an unexpected extent in 1942-43. Figures submitted to the Legis lative Council when it met in Apia on December 6, showed that estimated re venue for the year ended March 31, 1943, had been exceeded by £90,716, Total re venue for the year was £212,996 —higher import duties and Port and Service Tax being mainly responsible for the in crease. The whole of this excess revenue has been placed to a Reserve Fund, for new works and buildings.

It is estimated that the revenue for the current year, which ends on March 31. 1944, will be approximately the same as that for 1943-44, i.e., well over £200,000.

Prohibition

At the same meeting, the Hon. A.

Stowers submitted two motions to the Council:— (1) That the Council recommend to the New Zealand Government that pro hibition of alcoholic liquor to Europeans in Western Samoa be abolished.

In support of this, he stated that on neither historic nor religious grounds were arguments in favour of prohibition supportable. Samoans, like other Poly nesians, had not taken to alcohol until it became a forbidden fruit. Then they had acquired a taste for it. Prohibition in Samoa —as elsewhere —had been a failure; it had brought many evils to the Territory, had caused many deaths and had made many good people into criminals.

After a debate, and' the word “amended” had been substituted for “abolished,” the motion was passed by the Council.

That £5O Deposit

(2) That the Council recommend the New Zealand Government to abolish the £5O deposit required before citizens of the Territory could emigrate to New Zealand. Mr. Stowers said that large numbers of boys and girls of European status left school in the Territory every year and they could not find work in Samoa owing to lack of opportunities and the growing competition of native Samoans. There was an outlet for these young people in New Zealand, which was the Mandatory Power administering Western Samoa, but the New Zealand Government treated them as aliens and demanded a deposit from them.

This motion was defeated.

Owing to continued ill-health, the Hon, O. F. Nelson was unable to attend the Council meeting.