SAMOAN EXPORTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 November 1927, Page 5

SAMOAN EXPORTS

ALL-ROUND INCREASE, COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS’ OPINION. Auckland, Nov. 29. “There has been an all-round increase in our exports this year,” declared Mr, H. Bates, Collector of Customs at Apia, Western Samoa, who arrived at Auckland by the Tofnit this morning. “For the twelve months ending on December 31 Samoa will have expolled 13,000 tons of copra.” According to Mr. Bates although not a record this amount shows a considerable increase as compared with the figures for 1926, and bad it not been for the recent tror.b!? Samoa it would probably have loathed 15,000 tons. The greater portion of the copra from Samoa is shipped to Home and Continental markets. It is estimated that the amount of cocoa exported during the present year will total 800 tons. Last year only 300 tons were shipped, but thie decrease was partly due to the hurricane which affected many of th# groups in the Western Pacific during the January of that year. Th# figures for 1927, however, are abov# the average. “We have also shipped 160 tons of rubber,” added Mr. Bates. “The rub-ber-growing industry in Samoa is yet in its infancy as exporting wa» started only last year with a total of 36 tons.” Prospects for the coming season are bright in the opinion of Mr. Bates.