harbour work delays

Potlatch unhappy at Samoan harbour work delays

Prom an Apia correspondent In January it seems that Western Samoa is facing the new year with two big problems that need disposing of quickly.

Most important is the continued delay in clearing the channel for the Asau harbour scheme, for this delay prevents the valuable Potlatch timber export deal from operating. Next is the blow-up over salary scales for New Zealand teachers work ing in Samoa.

Four officials of Potlatch Forests Incorporated conferred in Apia in mid-January with government officials over the delays in completing the Asau channel.

Potlatch has called in the Dillingham Corporation for an independent look at the messy and difficult

Asau job. Total cost of the channel work could top $W5750,000. Apia’s Samoa Times has even suggested Potlatch is “rethinking” the timber agreement it has with the Samoan Government.

Potlatch executives refused to com ment, but the company is obviously unhappy.

On the teachers’ matter, Mr. C. B.

Newenham, president of the NZ Post- Primary Teachers’ Association, said in January that future NZ educational aid to Western Samoa “appeared to be in jeopardy”.

NZ Education authorities last year “requested” NZ teachers not to accept work in Western Samoa because their salaries had decreased 20 per cent, following devaluation. (PIM, Oct., 1968, p. 63). NZ devalued, but Western Samoa didn’t.

Mr. Newenham made it clear that if NZ teachers went to Western Samoa now that Samoa had “abrogated” its co-operation with NZ over teachers, this “would be regarded almost as if they had left the pro fession”.

FIRST OF A FLEET? The Republic of Nauru's new 6,000-ton trading vessel, "Eigamoiya", just after its launching in Scotland in December. For the story, see page 109.