Extraordinary Population

Production Must

Keep Pace

Extraordinary Population Growth in W. Samoa

WESTERN Samoa’s population is

increasing at a faster rate than the population of any other country in the Pacific. Its rate of increase is higher than that of Japan, or India.

These facts and an urgent warning that Western Samoa’s production must keep pace with its rapidly increasing population were stressed in the High Commissioner’s address at the opening of the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly recently.

Mr. Powles said that Western Samoa’s population is increasing at present at the rate of 3.3 per cent per annum, as compared with Fiji’s 2.6 per cent, New Zealand’s 1.9 per cent, Japan’s 1.7 per cent, or India’s 1.26 per cent.

He said that Mr. V. D. Stace, in his recent economic survey of Western Samoa for the South Pacific Commission, had found that the territory was sufficiently rich in natural resources to support a substantially greater population than at present. But Mr. Stace had also found that these natural resources were not at present being adequately developed, but that it was well within the capacity of the Samoan people to improve this situation.

Mr. Powles noted that an officer of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research after a recent inspection of Samoan cocoa plantations in Savaii, had reported that with even elementary attention being given to proper weeding, pruning, and care of trees, production from the existing trees could easily be doubled within one or two years. An extensive programme of agricultural educa tion and inspection was necessary, to learn* 3 * 6 are and anxious Mr Powles said there was unmistakable and challenging evidence that the quality of Western Samoa copra and cocoa had deteriorated markedly in recent years. Guaranteed prices or hiffh prices had had this effect. Action has already been taken by the Copra Board to see that this situa tion is rectified. Action will also be necessary to restore the good name formerly held by Samoan cocoa on the world market.

Only by increasing export pro duction, Mr. Powles said is P it possible to maintain or improve hvmg standards in the Territory.

The introduction of compulsory education and expansion of health

services will depend on export expansion.

Funds sought by the various Government Departments for the current year had been substantially pruned, and a large sum would be withdrawn from the General Reserve for capital expenditure in the Territory. This had not been necessary last year. It is proposed to invest the General Reserve account each year in future in capital development locally.

Two important Bills dealing respectively with Taxation and Customs Tariffs, embodying the re sults of very close expert study, were to be submitted to the Assembly. Their passage would place Government revenue on a sounder basis and would be more equitable to both producer and tax payer.

The resolutions of the recent

Constitutional Convention are being considered by the Zealand Government, Mr. Pg said, and a reply will be subnu m due course. In spite of cei disagreements, the political si tion following the convention been calm, confident, and relaxe ■. - t ’T D West became the first Golf Club member to hole-in-oni the Lae course when, in a s« game on April 3, he sank his V wood shot on the 211 yards green. The first hole-in-one at was recorded by Associate ga Mrs. Richard Moore (formerly ScottL who holed out on the si green about 18 months ago.

Bth is not the shortest hole on course, the 2nd being only 130 ya The Lae course is being exter and a new clubhouse built.