W. Samoa

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From Our Own Correspondent APIA, August 25.

Miss Mary. Woodward, Who As

“Miss New Zealand, 1949”, has figured prominently in recent New Zealand reports, is the daughter of Mr.

W. H Woodward, SM, of New Plymouth, who was Chief Judge of the High Court of Western Samoa during the twenties, and in the period of the “Mau” trouble.

Amongst other former judges of West ern Samoa, who at present hold the po sition of Magistrate in New Zealand, are Judges Luxford, Harley and Morling.

Mr. F. L. Goetz, well-known as former General Manager of the New Zealand Reparation Estates at Apia, and now of Auckland, NZ, was recently selected National Party candidate for the Ota huhu electorate at the coming New Zea land elections. Mr. Goetz is keenly in terested in matters affecting Samoa. ♦ ♦ ♦ If weather conditions are favourable, a bumper cocoa crop will come in to wards the end of this year, probably be ginning in October and lasting until December/January. The “Thor I,” ex pected this week, is to load practically all the cocoa in stores for the American market. The local price is about £135 per ton FOB, Apia.

There is an accumulation of about 4,000 tons of copra in Apia sheds, and exporters are anxious for the arrival of the next copra steamer. * * ♦ The recent shortage of native food stuffs, particularly of taro and bananas, has been relieved by the beginning of the breadfruit season.

The last “Matua” took 6,300 cases of bananas for the New Zealand market.

The “Waitomo” expected here at the be ginning of September is bringing much needed supplies of Australian goods. Un fortunately, she does not carry supplies of Australian sugar—for this we still de dend mostly on Fijian brown sugar. ♦ * « The Select Committee on the Pre ferential Customs Tariff has heard some evidence, but has not, as yet, terminated its deliberations and no decision has been made whether or not the Preferential Tariff on British goods is to be modified or abolished.