W . Sa Moa Needs A Dept

Of Agriclture

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Nov. 13.

¥¥TESTERN SAMOA, as is well known, H is a purely agricultural country with no mining or secondary in dustries to supplement its revenue. It is the more astonishing then that neither the New Zealand Government, nor the Samoan Administration, has, since 1928, done anything to safeguard, advise and develop the only primary industry of the country.

Since the Agricultural Department was abolished in 1928 nothing whatever has been spent out of revenue (which is ob tained wholly from the agricultural re sources of the country) for this essential purpose.

A glance at the official report of the Administration published recently shows, on the other hand, large sums spent on public works and medical services and education.

This indifference and short-sighted agricultural policy is hard to understand.

At the present time the cultivation of cacao by the Samoans has increased greatly, and it is necessary to supervise and control production if it is to keep the good' reputation for quality enjoyed by Samoan cocoa. It is also essential to protect cocoa and banana plantations from insect pests and plant diseases, and organise the campaign against the rhino ceros beetle which damages coconut plantations.

The present Samoan plantation inspec tors are political appointees, and have not the proper training to advise Samoan planters. Young Samoans should be trained at a school of tropical agricul ture, so they will be capable of advising their own people on modern agricultural developments.