Healthy Samoa

Growing Population Nearing 90,000

APIA, June 25.

AN analysis of the Census taken on September 25, 1951, has just been published, and the figures ;are exceedingly interesting. Five censuses have been taken since 1921. when Western Samoa came under INew Zealand administration, and Ithe intercensal comparisons show a wery remarkable rate of population iincrease:

This applies to the whole popula tion. The rate of increase for Samoans is higher, and stands now at 28.41 per cent, on the 1945 census.

The figures for Europeans show a decrease, explained by excess of emigration, and a more rigid in terpretation of status, which led many persons of European descent to declare themselves of Samoan status in 1951. Among Samoans, there was an excess of immigration over emigration, from 1945 to 1951, amounting to 2,658.

Compared with New Zealand, there is a relatively high proportion of young people in the age groups up to 29 years.

The following table shows the total population as on September 25, 1951:

The 1951 census shows 13 cen tenarians among full Samoans —11 men and 2 women. Among full and part-Europeans none are shown above the age of 90.

A total of 13,500 Samoan women reported 59,334 children born to them—an average of 4.5 to each

woman. The corresponding figures for Europeans show 3.5 children per woman.

It is noted that 81 per cent, of the Samoan population are fully literate in the vernacular, and 17.3 per cent, read English as well. The remaining 19 per cent, are not actually illiterate, but only some 14 to 15 per cent, can be classed as such —the census returns being considered inaccurate to this extent.

Females show a higher percentage of literacy than males.

The villages of the Apia town area have a combined population of 11.840, while residents of European status provide an additional 4,000 persons: so the total population of Apia is about 16,000.

Of the Samoan population, 79,600

were born in Western Samoa. Of the Europeans, 3,930 were born in Western Samoa and 826 outside.

The latter were born in:—New Zea land 192, Australia 53, Fiji 53, United Kingdom 37, other British countries 76, China 177, American Samoa 105, USA 51, Germany 25, France 16, other countries 32. There are 3,861 British subjects and 895 foreign subjects, divided as follows: Germany 359, USA 199, China 169, Denmark 62, Sweden 38, France 25, other countries 43.

In religion, 46,911 Samoans (or more than half) belong to the Lon don Missionary Society. Next in strength are Roman Catholics, 15,242; followed by 13,000 Method ists, 3,275 Latter Day Saints,. 842 Seventh Day Adventists, 65 Samoan

Percent, incr. on Previous Period Increases census 1921-26 ... 3.886 ... 10.7 1926-36 ... 15,717 .. . . 39.0 1936-45 ... 12,251 ... 21.9 1945-51 . . . . 16,712 ... 24.5

Upolu

Savaii Total

Europeans M .. . . 2,466 206 2,672 F . . . . 1,922 162 2,084 Tot. 4,388 368 4,756 Samoans M . . .. 29,165 11,953 41,118 F 27,795 11,240 39,035 Tot. 56,960 23,193 80,153 Total M . . 31,631 12,159 43,790 F .. 29,717 11,402 41,119 Tot. 61,348 23,561 84,909 At the 1945 census. the total

population

Samoans was: , 62,422

Europeans .

5,775 Total . . 68,197

Congregationalists and 4 Church of England.

Record Trade Figures

IN the year ended December 31, 1952, the trade "turnover in Western Samoa (total of exports and imports) was £3,465,874 Sterl-j mg, which was £549,000 more than 1951, and an all-time high. Imports were £1,687,790; exports £1,778,084.

Exports in detail;

Cocoa exports represented 33 per cent, of produce exported in 1952.

Exported cocoa will show a consid erable increase in quantity and value in 1953. United Kingdom took 43 per cent, of our cocoa, New Zea land 4 per cent., Australia 7 per cent., and USA 44 per cent.

Copra was 61 per cent, of our total produce exports—92 per cent, went to United Kingdom and remainder to New Zealand.

Produce exported in 1952 went to United Kingdom, £971,031; Canada, £161; Australia, £167,897; Fiji, £446; New Zealand, £222,168: Italy, £4,067; United States, £331,736 American Samoa, £1,071.

Imports originated in New Zea-| land, £309,075; United Kingdom, £252,468: USA, £141,513; Australia, £236,100; Canada, £71.264: other countries, £184,278,

Cocoa, tons 1952 2,448 1951 3,212 „ value £596,262 £801,001 Copra, tons 17,037 14,619 „ value Bananas, cases . £1,086,642 £781.172 65,590 62,914 „ value . £55,818 £53,376 Rubber, lbs 192,517 82,938 „ value £16,742 £14,232