Development Plans
pp. 39-41 · Read in the full issue
Tourism To Play Part In Western Samoa's Development Plans
From an Apia Correspondent Made public at the end of February in a radio broadcast by Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon.
G. F. D. Betham, the Develop emnt Plan for 1965 contains 11 projects. Main surprise was a switch in policy by Cabinet towards acceptance of tourism as a major source of revenue.
MR. BETHAM said that plans this year were aimed at increasing job and income opportunities. They include the building of a big Govern ment hotel on the site of the Casino Hotel, land development in Savaii, development of the handicraft in dustry, and an agricultural incentive scheme aimed at increasing quantity and quality of production.
Development expenditure, includ ing the hotel, will amount to more than £400,000 Samoan (equivalent to sterling).
“Without the additional funds ac cruing from recent increases in in come tax and import duties, the de velopment efforts which are so vital to the progress of Western Samoa would not be possible,” said Mr.
Betham.
Order of priority of the main schemes is:
• Land Development At
ASAU. In developing 6,035 acres of Government land at Asau, the new deep water port of Savaii, lots of about 20 acres each will be leased to qualified planters. The Govern ment will subsidise each farmer by providing a 5,000 gallon water tank and materials for roof catchment.
No rent will be charged for the first three years; half rent will be paid during fourth and fifth years, and full rent plus repayment for water catchment costs will begin during sixth year of occupancy. It is planned to settle 20 families there this year.
By 1970, 189 families will be settled. • TOURIST HOTEL. It is pro posed to build on the site of the present Casino Hotel, “a first class 100-room Government - controlled
hotel which will reflect in its archi tecture the culture and spirit of Western Samoa.”
Finance will be obtained by a national development loan, contribu tions from Government general funds, and private investment.
• Tourist Study. A Study
will be made of planned develop ment of the tourist industry and Savaii. Finance for this study will be sought from the United Nations Special Fund. It is also planned that Western Samoa will join the Pacific Area Travel Association.
• Handicrafts Industry:
A National Cottage Industries De velopment Association will be formed, which will operate a small handicrafts factory and buy and sell handicrafts for export.
• Agricultural Incen
TIVES. Six prizes, ranging from £4OO down to £5O, in five contests, will be given to villages clearing bunchy top; planting the most disease free banana trees; having the least banana rejects; planting the most coconuts; and planting the most Lafi 7 cocoa trees.
• Supply Of Planting
MATERIALS. Six nurseries will be established in Upolu, and four in Savaii, to step up the propagation of coconut and Lafi 1 seedlings and cut tings.
After 14 years it is estimated that (Over)
this will lead to exports of 41,800 tons of copra, almost three times present exports.
• Overseas Trade Office.
As New Zealand takes 41i per cent, of Samoa’s exports it is planned to set up there an Overseas Trade and Development Office. Its purpose will be to obtain the best possible prices and to establish new markets for Samoan products, and to encourage investment of capital and knowhow in Samoa.
• Food Processing
LABORATORY. A laboratory to investigate possibilities of processing local food products will be set up at Nafanua,
• Coconut Tree Banding.
Experiments will be carried out into the effectiveness and increased re turn possible from banding coconut trees against rats. Some estimates put rat damage to nuts at over £lOO,OOO annually.
Other plans include income tax relief and import duty concessions to encourage investment in new in dustries.
Public reaction to the overall plan has generally been favourable—main criticism being that the plans do not show sufficient imagination or are not comprehensive enough to make the country really boom.
But there is general relief that after three years of talking at last something looks like actually being done.
Main points of disagreement will be centred on the question of tourism. There seems to be a general feeling that some encourage ment of tourism is needed, but there is considerable difference of opinion as to whether the big tourist hotel is needed, and if it is needed, whether this should be a project for govern ment or for private enterprise.
The plan has been tabled in the Assembly for approval and dis cussions are likely to go through the final two weeks of March. Approval has already been given in principle to the Asau land settlement scheme.