Startling Increase In
p. 75 · Read in the full issue
Cocoa Thefts
Apia, Mar. 3
rE other day, one steamer loaded 1,700 tons of copra for Europe, and another took 300 tons of cocoa beans for New York. The two cargoes were worth about £lOO,OOO to Western Samoa.
Little wonder there is money about!
But this has its bad side. There has been a startling increase in thefts from cocoa plantations and traders. In one case, two blocks of cocoa trees were picked clean by thieves, who sneaked in and operated while the owner was en gaged elsewhere. In several instances, thieves have stolen substantial parcels,
out of driers and storage sheds. It is easy to get away with a sack of beans worth £l2. Thefts from cocoanut plant ations are on the increase.