Money And Politics

W. Samoa Has Both at Present

From Our Own Correspondent APIA. June 20.

THERE is much political excitement in Western Samoa at the present time because the committee of investi gation by the Trusteeship Council of UNO is due to arrive in the Territory in a few days. Meetings of representatives of the Samoans are the order of the day in all districts and efforts are being made to reach a complete understanding, so that a united front may be presented to the committee.

It is doubtful, however, if this united front will be achieved. There seems to be a divergence of views on political matters between the “Fautua” (or para mount high chiefs, Mataafa, Malietoa and Tamasese) on one side, and the Paipule (or Samoan Parliament) on the other; and it is likely that the Committee will hear a variety of views on the same sub jects.

It will be interesting to learn the pro posals and submissions which the Samoans will bring to the attention of the commission; but, while “self-govern ment” is the slogan of the moment, Samoa still enjoys its boon time. The price of cocoa, which was reported to have dropped, has now recovered, and the prevailing price is £l9O to £2OO per ton.

However, this is the off-season, and only a limited quantity of beans is being de livered at Apia sheds.

Money is still plentiful with both traders and planters and among the Samoans themselves. The unprecedented purchas ing power of the Samoans has caused an incredible increase in trading stations, and every Samoan village is now blessed with three, four or even five trade stores, each competing vigorously against the other. Credit is given freely, and each trader tries to secure cocoa and copra from Samoan producers.

Prosperity is not confined to Opulu; Savaii, too, is well off. Recently, New Zealand Reparation Estates built a saw mill and a new settlement at Sataua, in West Savaii, where there is valuable timber.

The pnly section of the community that appears to find the going tough is the motor transport industry. Trucks, cars and buses were imported in large numbers in recent months, and now there is a price war for custom. The general public is benefiting, but some of the financially weaker taxi and bus owners will go under in the struggle.