Is On The Way!

West Samoa’s Boom Is On The Way!

There were some sighs of relief in the Government and elsewhere among forward thinking Samoans when in February the West Samoan Legislative Assembly finally passed the Loan Authorisation and Harbour Development Bill, giving approval to Government plans for deep water wharves to be built at Apia and Asau (Savaii) at a cost of £1,200,000.

DURING the weeks before discussion of the bill there were rumours of growing opposition to Government plans, and even talk of a no-confidence motion. But when it came to the showdown the opposition evaporated. A move by Pilia’e I. to delay consideration of the bill a further three months was defeated by 35 votes to 7.

“This is a tremendous step forward and it assures the success of our first five-year development programme,” said the Minister of Finance, Mr.

G. F. D. Betham. Most people agreed.

It seemed at last that the longpromised boom was on the way, for this kind of development is really big business in Western Samoa.

The wharves on the two main islands will play a vital part in the independent Polynesian State’s economic progress. It is astonishing

that not in Samoa’s long history has there been an overseas wharf at Apia, The contract for Apia calls for dredging the berthing area 36 ft deep at low water, construction of a 600ft wharf, building two big transit sheds; reclaiming an area of 8i acres behind the wharf and reclaiming another 30 acres in front of Apia and along Beach Road and out to the reef, For Asau there will be a 200-ft entrance dredged 36 ft deep, a 400 ft wharf with a big transit shed and reclamation.

A five-man team led by the Min ister of Works, flew to Wellington on February 23 for the signing of the contract with the U.S. firms of Merritt-Chapman-Scott Corporation, Tecon Corporation and the NZ firm of Fletcher Holdings Ltd. who are buliding the wharves as a joint

Key UN personnel In Western Samoa are the Director of Works Mr. B. Claussen (left) and the Regional Adviser to the South West Pacific, Mr. H. Spence (centre), here seen discussing Samoan harbour plans with the Minister for Works, Mr.

F. C. F. Nelson. —Photo: Samoana.

venture known as Merritt-Tecon- Fletcher. «,-fK° th '->^ are to be completed within 22 months Meanwhile the Government has opened the country’s first national development loan for £250,000. Five ye^ r i^ tock carr ies interest of 54% and 10 year stock 5|%. 7 Samnf ’ a ® Week ’? visit t 0 Western bamoa and inspection of develop- Te?t!n Pr( ? gre f’ . chairma n of the UN I e , ch "“> al Assistance Board, Mr t?on a?Th n ; h <f S expressed satisfac- Prograrame he Sam ° an devel ° pme "‘ of H W,^ omme c med that the stability Of Western Samoa was in marked coSs W,th SOme ° ther «ng counfrv°T t,l S the most con servative lh e ever visi, ed,” he said ut c bange is bound to come.”

Diplomat For Fiji

A much closer Australian official interest in the South Pacific will develop following the appointment to Fiji of the first Australian Commissioner, Mr. R. N. Hamilton {pictured).

Mr. Hamilton will arrive in early March. He was to be proceeded in late February by Mr. R. H. Platt, as Second Sec retary, who will open the Commission’s office in the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva. Mr.

Hamilton, 40, has had extensive overseas experience with the Australian Department of Ex ternal Affairs, and it is assumed he will keep his Government up to date on all developments in the area, not only those in Fiji.

Previously a watching brief has been kept by the Australian Consul in Noumea.