Amoan Economic
p. 71 · Read in the full issue
Report Is Not
Impressive
From a Correspondent APIA actically unnoticed in the excite t of the independence celebra was the report of the Economic 'lopment Committee on Economic ning.
E report was the work of an 18man committee of politicians, c servants and businessmen and ad been awaited for several bs. was a disappointment. Although ontains some interesting and re figures that emphasise the for an accelerated development amme, most of the report is a sh of everything that has been before, and deals in generalities, committee attempts to compro between modern economic xls and Samoan custom, e new proposal the report makes 3lan to form a Government De ment Corporation, s report repeats the old fear a tourist industry would spoil ulture of the people and also pt them, and also continues the that economic development in rn Samoa can be carried out i the present system of land i, despite the difficulties that been pointed out by Stace and other visiting economic expert, datai system of land tenure has seen as the greatest drawback f plan of economic development, phasising that priority be given e development of agriculture, port states, “It is clear and be any doubt that unless vigorous are taken to increase the al income, at least as fast as •pulation increases, the standard ng will decline, because an ever sing proportion of the limited resources will be required for (reduction and will not be avail br export crops.” ulation is expected to increase ,000 to 163,000 in the next 10 ire that with the rapidly in ig population it would be im le to provide an income from nd for all, the committee re snded the establishment of ary industries using locally pro materials, and that the Gov ut give incentives through legis committee agreed there were dent capital resources in
Western Samoa to implement even a modest development programme, estiat •V'Si 6 as „? ot more than 130,000 available in Western Samoa tor this purpose It suggested the Government should seek overseas aid trom established international agencies for specific developmental projects.
It was also agreed, surprisingly in VIGW , some criticism that has been expressed over the past few years, mat m the long run education was a type of investment that paid very high dividends, and that there should be increased emphasis on trade training,
apprenticeship programmes and over seas scholarships.
The committee suggested the set ting up of a Development Corpora tion charged under Government direction with the over-all planning co-ordination and operation of specific development projects, j n conclusion, the report em phasised the need of securing the co operation of the public in its develop ment plans, and recommended that the Government formulate a detailed plan for economic development and then carry out an extensive campaign to publicise it.