Economic

West Samoa's

Survey Starts

From PlM’s Apia Correspondent THE long awaited economic survey of Western Samoa by a United Nations sponsored team is now under way. The two-man team comprises Dr. A. Lauterbach, of Brookings Institute, US, and Mr. V. D. Stace, economist for the South Pacific Com mission Development Section. It will make recommendations for future economic steps.

The team will work in Samoa for three months. It has been stated previously that, once specific develop ment projects are approved, Prime Minister Mataafa will go abroad on a finance-raising mission accompanied by a UN adviser.

Meanwhile, Western Samoa’s financial position is showing a con siderable improvement over the grim deficits of last year.

A supplementary budget for the period from January to July this year shows a favourable trade balance of £11,548 as against un favourable balances of £488,199 and £362,408 in the similar periods of 1961 and 1960.

The Minister for Finance, Mr. G.

F. D. Betham, says it is possible that earnings for cocoa and bananas this year may be higher than the record figures of 1958. Export figures for the first seven months this year were £1,468,365 compared with £1,011,880 in the same period of 1961 and £1,190,557 for the same period in 1960.

IN VILA: The newly appointed British Resident Com missioner in the New Hebrides, Mr. A. M.

Wilkie, meets his French counterpart, M. Delauney, on his arrival in Vila from London in late Sep tember. Photo: Reece Discombe.