Notes From American
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
Samoa
Pago Pago, July 5.
IT was interesting to learn, from speeches made during the jubilee celebrations (American Samoa was 50 years old in mid-April) that there are
now 4,300 school-children (between 7 and 17) in this Territory.
The growth of population since United States took us over in 1900 has been remarkable. Then there were only 6,000; by 1940 census the number had grown to 18,000: and the census now being taken is likely to show a further sub stantial increase.
The Navy (responsible hitherto for ad ministration) is now moving out, and the US Department of Interior officials are
Lading charge. We wonder where the administration funds are coming fronu Can you see Congress voting large sums for the upkeep of this small isolated; place? We can’t!
A facetious remark recently, that Con gress might ask New Zealand to takes over Eastern Samoa and run it with Western Samoa, caused a near panic; The Eastern Samoans cannot even toler ate the thought that they might becomes subservient to the richer and more powerful chiefs of Western Samoa. The; three groups—Eastern Samoa, Western; Samoa and Manu a—stand jealously^ alone, each ready to fiercely defend its rights, traditions and its own little bit
of territory.
The United States Naval Air Station at Tafuna packed up and departed fori Honolulu on June 20—to the outspoken regret of everyone. They were popular] folk. Their Catalina—which kept us in touch with Suva—has gone, too. There are vague rumours that Pago Pago may be included in soma trans-Pacific ain service—but nothing definite. Now we get our air-mails through Apia; and a Matson freighter calls in every three weeks.
It now appears as if the Tuna fishing venture promoted by Mr. Harold Gatty is going out, too. The canning plant here — which was to work in cooperation with Marine Products in Suva—has been idle for months —in fact, there was only one shipment of canned tuna since it was erected. The two remaining families are about to leave. It is a great pity—an industry like this would have made a lot of difference to Pago Pago. I under stand that a caretaker will remain here? to look after the plant.
Talk about your 1949 rainfall in Suva— a mere 13 feet! Whv, here in Pago Pago we had over 26 feet (313 inches)! In 1948, we had 253 inches.