Development Of Savaii "Best

United Nations Economic Report

Development Of Savaii "Best Hope For W. Samoa's Future"

A recent United Nations economic report to the Govern mt of Western Samoa sees the development of the island of vaii as the best hope for the newly independent country’s momic future. The report’s main points were released in ay.

i report was made by Mr. A. .auterbach, a US economist, and V. D. Stace, well-known New land economist, who was ded from the SPC, following a / made with funds provided by fnited Nations. report estimates that ,1,360,000 will be needed to * that a five-year development for Western Samoa in 1964iroceeds rapidly and without ible interruption. this, £827,000 is earmarked Savaii compared with only ,000 for the main island of i and £335,000 for general pro ithout discounting the future tance of the more highly de- A main island of Upolu and npressive economic potential,” port says, “it must be conceded Savaii with its large areas of i n forest and unoccupied tain pastures offers today’s reassuring prospects for the mic future of Western Samoa.” ith relatively little government ng on public works, Savaii has how local leadership and unity co-operation can bring rd an economically retarded to a situation of expansion progress, largely by the en sm of the local people con- I.

Deep Water Wharf e manner in which the island ling main road of Savaii has 3rought to completion in recent at relatively low cost to the 1 Government is a clear demon m of the willingness of the ; to do a great deal to assist :ssive endeavours by vigorous unity effort.” report recommends that Asau ; site of a deep water wharf ew township on Savaii. This is ily aspect of the report that is to cause much controversy, as )f Savaii’s population is grouped I Salelologa and this area,

under progressive leadership, is press ing strongly for a wharf.

The report proposes that £900,000 of the £1,360,000 needed for the five-year plan should come from overseas financial sources. Of the rest, £lOO,OOO would come from taxation and £350,000 from internal government loans.

Besides providing for extensive development of Savaii and lesser de velopment on Upolu, the money would be used for improved agricultural ex tension services; agricultural educa tion and research; improved credit facilities; promotion of cattle farm ing; assistance to improve com merical fishing, sawmilling, and forestry; road construction; water

supply; the promotion of local Gov ernment; and the setting up of an economic development secretariat under a senior development economist responsible to the Min ister of Economic Development.

The report says Western Samoa has the preconditions for a sound economy once its productive effici ency has been raised. It plans on an annual increase in agricultural pro duction of 5 per cent, over the next five years.

No Understanding

“It is true that there is not as yet a national consciousness or the understanding of the nature of a central government,” the report says.

“Independence has not really entered into the thinking of most villagers. Even among the more educated groups there is little psychological readiness for long range national planning.

“What can be expected realistically at this time, however, is a readiness to formulate immediate and tangible objectives within the definite reach of this nation, and to carry them through during the next few years.

“Such readiness presupposes basic leadership decisions which only the Samoans themselves can make.”

SAMOANS IN SYDNEY. Photographed in a happy mood at a recent Polynesian Association evening in Sydney are: Standing (from the left): Mr. A. Fruean, in Sydney to study graphic arts; Miss Louisa Crawley, teaching Domestic Science at Bankstown Girls' High School; Mr. Victor Meisake, taking a Bachelor of Arts course at the University of NSW; Mr. Augustine Cain, an electrical engineering student at Ultimo Technical College. Seated are: Mesdames Fiona Lloyd and Telesia Bowman —both married to Australians and now permanently living in Sydney.