News Notes From

W. Samoa

EST price offered for Samoan cocoa early May was £Stg.26s a ton, f.o.b. Apia for grade, but little cocoa was coming in from plantations and stocks then were low in * * * Ie Chilean naval training vessel "Es -31 da", arriving at Apia via Easter Island Papeete, was the centre of interest early when the sailing craft spent three days lort. Officers were entertained at a cocktail y at Vailima and by the Apia Club, and rge number of local people were entertained ird by Capitan de Fregata Victor Wilson, last visited Apia as a midshipman in the jan training vessel "Baquedano" in 1931. * * * mending duty rates on imports, as approved he last session of the Legislative Assembly, e into force on May 4. There is public cism of the new high rates on liquor. * * * blowing an entertainment and dance at the na Cabaret, Apia, during May, a number jeopie were admitted to hospital suffering i food poisoning, and a Samoan died on following day. iuse of the sickness was advised too late the medical authorities to carry out an nination of the food, but it is believed crab or crayfish was responsible. * * * afa Pass Road, linking the north and h coasts of Upolu, reached an important e of construction on April 30 when gangs i north and south linked up near the ni River Falls. The event was celebrated a simple ceremony in which local Samoan PWD officials took part. * * * te session of the Legislative Assembly which in on March 29, ended on May 1 on com on of some of the most important business dealt with by the Assembly, overnment Estimates were approved for > with only slight modification. ie Income Tax Ordinance was approved in ciple but the actual rates have been left ibeyance for the August session, ie Customs Order Amendment Bill, com ely revising the tariff but maintaining ish Preference, was presented and approved r some modification to suggested rates, dally a reduction of duty on certain staple s, including rice and tinned fish. Tax on or was increased on a motion introduced fhe Hon. H. W. Moors, n a morion by the Hon. A. M. Gurau, and •oved by 16 votes to 3, the elected mem voting en bloc, a commission of inquiry investigate the organisatiion and activities the Public Works Department and particu r the circumstances surrounding the alleged t and loss of stores and the misuse of cles. An amendment by the Acting ncial Secretary that a Treasury investigation made was rejected, and a three-man com mon will in due course be appointed, he Assembly passed a motion by the Hon. iga calling for stricter traffic control follow recent fatal accidents involving children, he Hon. Tamasese's motion that the Govern t negotiate with the Union Steam Ship Co. ivoid Sunday cargo handlings with "Tofua"

"Matua" was also passed unanimously.