TRADE WITH SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2718, 13 March 1916, Page 8

TRADE WITH SAMOA

DOMINION'S OPPORTUNITY

WIDE FIELD FOR MERCHANTS

Suggestions as to liow Auckland mer■hants might secure a lai'go trade with iamoa woro contained in a letter read it a meeting of the Auckland Oliam>er of Commerce one afternoon last vcek. A copy of the communication lad been sent to t'ho Hon. James Allen, Minister of Dofonce, who roQiiosted ;hat ho should bo furnished with the cply sent by the Chamber. Hie writer, sergeant W. H. Mulcahy, who is atached to the Belief tforce, and has had learly 12 . months' residence in Apia, iamoa, said lie was surprised, during ■hat period, at the considerable number if large schooners calling for cargoes, ihree and sometimes four being in the larbcur at )one time. All brought lai'go, and the aggregate of goods supilied from America and Australia was arge. Practically every class of merihandise was. imported from America, ■otton goods largely, but hardware, :erosene, benzine, oil stoves, ice chests, iil engines, motor-cars, canned fruits, itc., represented extensive lines. Buildng timber, iron, and a large quantity if groceries, llour, and provisions and ancy goods went to Samoa from Sydley. Apathy of Business Men. "The apathy of New Zealand firms :o the potentialities of Samoa," coninued the writer, "can only arise from . complete lack of knowledge of the sland and its large native population, vhich is about 40,000. There are bewcen twenty and thirty large 'general tores carrying fairly large stocks, nany having branch stores at from hree to six different places. There s aio question but that the native, peo>le 'have the handling of a large amount f money for copra, cocoa, kapok, etc., iroduced at no cost, but valued at >7-5,000 per annum." The Hon. James Allen's suggestion hat a representative should bo sent to iamoa by New Zealand merchants at a livided cost seemed to the writer, who 3 a business man, difficult of realisaion, owing to the probability of a lashing of interests whore orders -were oncerned. ' In any case, lie said, New lealand should not hesitate , to assort icrself as soon as possible, whether by ndividual or_ combined effort. Two ndustries which were capable of great otpansion wero poultry-raising and pigireeding. There, were great numbers f pigs and poultry in Samoa, but ignornee of correct methods of raising was esponsible for poor results. Eggs "ere almost unobtainable at the market irlce of 2s. 6d. to 4s. per dozen, and here was a large but unsatisfied demand or them. Bee-keeping should also irove very profitable, as the whole sland was an immense garden. The Cerman Trader, Servant Mulcahy suggested that an xhibition should bo held, and an inviation extended to the chiefs to attend, writer urged the necessity of precnting_ a _ strong front to tho traders, ho majority of whom were German oi inlf-caste Samoan. only a very small «rcentage being British. Mr. E. C. Brown© said he understood hat many firms were doing their utmost to secure the Samoan and Island rade generally,■ but they had lost so nany responsible men owing to the war hat they could not do all, they would ike to do in this connection. Hie chairman, Mr. E. Anderson, said e 'understood Colonel G. TV. S. Patteron was requested by the Government o make a report as to the-possibilities f trade between New Zealand and lamoa, Tho spoaker added that the Jovernment should be requested to furish the Chamber with a copy of tho eporfc. . ' , It was decided to thank Sergeant lulcahy for his letter, and the whole latter was referred to a sub-committee c consider and report. It was also ecided to ask the Government for a opy of Colonel Patterson's report, if it fas available.