SAMOAN EXPORTS CUT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30983, 12 February 1966, Page 3

SAMOAN EXPORTS CUT

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

APIA, February 10. Western Samoa’s exports this year will probably be only about 40 per cent of the 1965 figure, says a Western Samoan Government report on the damage caused by the hurricane two weeks ago.

The report, released after a meeting of the 22-man Relief Committee today, also warned of a serious and prolonged food shortage within the next few weeks and a reduction in Government revenue for 1966 of more than £lOO,OOO.

The report was compiled by the Prime Minister’s Department. Not all Government departments have finished assessing the damage, however, and future estimates of the havoc caused could be even higher. Commenting on crops and plantations, the report says the banana industry has been temporarily wiped out, copra production is expected to decline by 50 per cent, cocoa production will show a serious decline that cannot yet be estimated and breadfruit production will be curtailed completely for six months and then be less than half normal for at least five years. Total damage to Govern-

ment buildings is estimated at £32,534. The greatest Government loss has been suffered by the Education Department, with damage to schools in the Leitu-O-Tane area alone mounting to £6OOO. Avele Agricultural College, a special enterprise started by the New Zealand Government and regarded as one of the keys to Samoa’s agricultural development, lost its entire breadfruit plantation. The kitchen, dormitories and principal’s house were badly damaged or destroyed. Damage to communications is estimated at £5OBO, with extensive damage to telephone lines and structural damage to the radio station.