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NZ Middlemen Anomalous Position in W. Samoa

Prom Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 7. rPORT control in Western Samoa has created the anomalous position that Australian, Canadian, British and American goods, which Apia importers have always imported direct from the producing countries, can now be obtained only through New Zealand agents and middlemen. An appreciable increase in the prices of such commodities has resulted.

As there is no saving of shipping space involved, it is hard to understand the reason for these restrictions. Australia and the United States are the greatest sufferers and their trade with Samoa has been curtailed severely.

There is a mild shortage of flour and rice supplies and emergency supplies of these commodities had to be ordered from New Zealand. Bread deliveries have been limited to Europeans, and rice has been reserved for native labourers and Chinese.

Following representations to the au thorities, by Samoans, the purchase rates for native-grown copra have been in creased from 9/- per 100 lb. to 10/9 per 100 lb.—with correspondingly lower rates for country districts. Samoans have also asked the Adminstration to flx higher rates for native-grown cocoa beans.

Native foodstuffs—bananas, taro and yams, etc—are still in very short supply

on the Apia market, though the bread fruit season has somewhat relieved the shortage lately.