Prosperity Returning To

Samoan Planting

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, June 6.

SLOWLY, but surely, the Samoan plan tation industry is recovering from the neglect and the labour difficulties of the “dollar prosperity” period.

A very good cocoa crop is being har vested at present; cocoa, coconut and banana plantations are now weeded and re-planted by European and Samoan planters.

Samoan producers have been given new incentive and encouragement by a recent increase in the price of cocoa and copra.

Following a rise in the cocoa price on the American market, Apia cocoa buyers have re-established the former rate of £BO per ton for first-grade, hot-air dried, plan tation cocoa, with a corresponding in crease for Samoan native sun-dried cocoa.

The f.o.b. price paid to copra exporters has also been increased by the Govern ment—from £2O to £22/10/- per ton. This should stimulate production appreciably.

Banana planters hope that their strong representations made to the New Zealand Government asking for an increase in the export price for Samoan bananas will be granted, and that the banana industry will thus recover from the present period of stagnation.

The official rate in Western Samoa has recently been reduced from 6/- per* dollar to 5/- per dollar.