WESTERN SAMOA.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1922, Page 1

WESTERN SAMOA.

TRADE AXD PRODUCTION. IS NEW ZEALAND DOING ITS SHARE? ; ISLAND OFFICIAL’S ADVICE. WELLINGTON, January 21. j A thoughtful address, indicating the: varied aspects of production and trade in Western Samoa, and how New Zea-t land’s share in its development and commerce could be increased was made before the Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday by ‘Mr P. jE. Patt-, rick, Commissioner of (Crown Estates at Western Samoa. Mr Pattrick hr spent many years at Samoa, and his views grpnsed. .the,keenest interest. Mr A. L. Hunt presided. NEW TRADE CHANNELS.

Before the war*, said Mr Pattrick the products of that group went to Germany. During the war they went to ’Frisco. By the aid of coloured charts he. illustrated the system of tenure of land there. When the ThreePower Lands Commission sat in ' the early ’.nineties to investigate the titles of Europeans, it was found that they werte substantiated. Thujs, the Germans acquired a,largo tract of freehold, which’ was now vested in the New Zealand Government. The European population was now 2000, including halfcastes, 33,000 natives and 1700 labourers, mainly Chinese. The trade was, therefore, principally catering for the natives. Copra was the staple export, but cocoa, was being developed. Unfortunately, the price had been falling and the plantations could not now be

profitably carried on. There was a prospect of losing the cultivation work done for the .last ifive years “We are keeping a brave face, in the hope that the market will improve.”

DOMINION LOSES OPPORTUNITY

New Zealand has supplied £65,000 worth of goods to Samoa but could easily double that amount, said Mr Pattrick. He specially mentioned drapery, the import of which was £50,000 Of this amount the import from the Dominion was £20,000, but, if prices were lowered, the Dominion could get Hie whole of that trade. There were only two travellers going regularly from New Zealand, and ten from Australia. The New Zealand merchant would have to work for the trade, if he wanted it. The export of copra was about 11,000 tons, but the productivity of the island was 40 or 50 per cent, in excess of that, if the natives were given inducements to produce more. The remedy would be to have hot-air driers at five or six points on the island, instead of continuing to allow the limited amount of energy the native is prepared to employ in sun-drying it. He had to take the copra in and out, according as the weather was wet or fine. Kiln-driers should be established, if a oreater output was desired. A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

“There is a unique opportunity for New Zealand capital to take over the German trading stations around the isljnnd. At each there was a copra shed, and each station was in touch with all the plantations. It is contemplated .to offer them by public sale by tender. Speaking as a New Zealander rather than as the Commissioner, I should like to see a company formed that would take on, not only these stations, but the work of kiln-drying. The company could have a uniform grade of copra, which would give added trading facility. Kiln-dried copra would fetch £.2 a ton more. There is a big scope, if it is taken right away, despite the present difficulty in raising money. With a direct service, we are only five days from Wellington; at present we have to send all our copra via Suva, BENEFITS OF DIRECT SERVICE. “Within twelve months, with a shipI ping service, Samoa could supply all the bananas New Zealand would require,” said Mr Pattrick. “The objects of the company would be varied. There are profitable local agencies that could be secured, and there is a probability of being able to mill the copra, as is being done from the beginning of this year in Fiji. The fertiliser by-product would be consumed in the island, and would help to maintain the plantations. WASTED BY-PRODUCTS. “Every fine day in the. year we are losing valuable fibre, because we are not able to treat the husks commercially by machine-drying them. Their destruction is necessary owing fo their being a breeding-place for beetles. There are several products—copra, fibre, glycerine, margarine fertiliser, and oil—but we are destroying all except the copra.” ISLAND FEDERATION. To promote Samoan trade he recommended an arrangement such as a tariff federation for Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa A political federation was out of the question, but a trade federation was practicable. It would make for co-ope-rative production, rather than cutthroat trading. PROHIBITION COMMENDED.. “Prohibition was the very best thing that could have happened to Samoa, said Mr Pattrick, in answer to a question by the president. The Samoan tariff was 15 per cent on British and 22} per cent on foreign., | ~ Bv the aid of interesting CTaplrs, Mr, Pattrick showed how trade nad been | diverted from Geripimx of, the recent figiu-ps ’ while ( trade with Bntsk ( overi takincr the American trade, prbstill the greatest. ; A yole ajP waji’aoco^ded^ ' l l‘'>i -"Gf i •'tiiiti'ji ‘woiff .!»> Siuu ~i .-••.-I.j,nj A scientific,. samtpry solvent for Is. is another leader. —Advt. 1