West Samoa wants to brew its own

From an Apia correspondent WITH the proliferation of beer halls, euphemistically termed clubs, around Apia, and even further afield in Upolu and Savaii, the consumption of beer in Western Samoa last year totalled 152,821 gallons, valued at £48,861. All of it was imported.

This has led a few sharp-eyed businessmen to the conclusion that a brewery could profitably turn Samoan water to good brown ale. In late July the Enterprises Incentives Board announced that it has turned down two applications for incentives to set up breweries, because the law prohibits the manufacture in Samoa of intoxicating liquor.

Nevertheless, with increasing public pressure for Samoa’s own brewery there is not much doubt that the law will eventually be changed.

If Prime Minister Mata’afa has any say, however, the brewery will be State-owned.

“We don’t want private investors coming in here to set up a brewery and then take out all the profits. The profits should go to the people,” he said in August. ‘The establishment of a brewery is a ticklish political problem but if any brewery is established it must be controlled by the Government.”