Potlatch Reaches "First Base"

In Savaii Timber Plan

From R. F. Rankin in Apia After a four-day informal session at the beginning of November, Western Samoa’s parliament approved in principle a plan by the giant US firm of Potlatch Forests Inc. to develop a timber industry on the island of Savaii.

POTLATCH proposes to invest initially about $U54,500,000 in the industry, and ultimately $9,000,000.

Its plan for Savaii has been under discussion and investigation for more than a year.

The first two days of the informal session were mainly taken up with explanations from Potlatch officials, especially from the vice-president and general manager, Mr. L. K. Floan.

Others who took part were Mr.

Harry Spence Jr., an adviser to Potlatch and former UN regional representative in Apia; Mr. Guy

Powles, legal adviser and former Apia magistrate; and Mr. J. H.

Leuthold, a shareholder.

The members of parliament were mainly worried about problems relating to the use of customary land, and the difficulties of coconut beetle control.

But questions asked the Potlatch representatives were far-ranging and even touched on the deleterious effect an influx of US technical per sonnel might have on the sex mores of the community.

Members approved the Potlatch scheme in principle after Prime Minister Mataafa had made a moving speech.

Commenting on a meeting of leading chiefs on Savaii who had re portedly rejected the Potlatch scheme, Mataafa said he had been grievously hurt to learn that they should “reject off hand the efforts made by their servant”.

He also said he had been grievously hurt by statements that perhaps he had shares in the company. He denied this and denied that Potlatch had any desire to take over Samoan land.

“You and you alone will control your lands,” he said. “If you wish to participate in economic develop ment of the country, it will be up to you to say so.

“It is quite true that our fore

The Potlatch team pictured here outside Western Samoa's Parliament building in November are a shareholder, Mr. J. H. Leuthold; the vice-president and general manager, Mr. L. K. Floan; adviser and former UN regional representative in Apia, Mr. Harry Spence, Jr.; and legal adviser, former Apia magistrate, Mr. Guy Powles.

fathers were perhaps misguided and sold our land for perhaps an overcoat or a broken bucket, but we are in the 20th century now.

“We are well advanced, or should be, and have our independence and the right to guard our own intie Ps a s lce ; . . . • Mataafa said that society m Samoa was made up of certain strata. At one end of the scale were the rich, who did not care “to lift a finger to help the poor”, and at the other end were the landed, but practically penniless.

He said that the Potlatch proposals gave a chance to the penniless to

help themselves and get more of the good things of life and an educa tion for their children, it was t he a j m G f the government to help in any possible way to get an income for the lower class, Mataafa conduded by asking that members only approve the Potlatch , • p P P • “There will come a time when all plans are drafted for the perusal and final approval of the House if that is your wish,” he said.

Mataafa was applauded by mem bers and the motion was passed with only one or two dissenting voices.