Samoa’S Riches

apid Growth in Population

FIGURES relating to Western Samoa’s financial year (which ids on December 31) suggest that is Trust Territory now is about the ost prosperous major territory in e South Pacific. Consider the flowing: £ Estimated revenue for 1951 558,540 Actually received, 1951 678,897 Expenditure, 1951 631,175 Accumulated reserve, end 1951 781,347 Annual salary bill, 1952 237,000 During 1951, the NZ Government ve Western Samoa, for purposes itside the current expenditure listed iove, over £40,000 from the cumulated profits of the Repara >n Estates (former German proper ;s taken over and worked); while e Copra Stabilisation Fund in eased by £37,500 to £104,090. le Insurance Fund had £52,179 in and the Currency Notes Fund 110,429. The Post Office Savings ink held £310,221.

The High Commissioner announces at, according to September, 1951 msus, the population is: Europeans 4,388 Samoans 78,340 82,728 In 1948 the population was 72,936 7, 1 4,9 Samoans).

There are now only two or three mdred full Europeans here. The mainder are of part European, rt Samoan blood—an attractive id steadily growing community, who ive European status.

An interesting and startling feature the Census is the disclosure that e population includes 38,862 lildren of 15 years and under (47 :r cent, of population)—ls,ol6 ider 5 years. The total school en- Iment is 29,000. It looks as if e Samoan Government has a first ass education problem right on its mds.