SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1923, Page 4

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

NECESSITY FOR SUBSIDIES

WELLINGTON, July 30.

Samoan revenue, which included L‘2ii,ol)() subsidy from the New Zealand Govorninent, showed a deficiency of CI,ICR last year, and the annual report of the administration indicates that the subsidy policy will require to he continued as the Dominion will not otherwise be able to carry out its obligations under the mandate, paiticuli'.rly in regard to improving education and medical services for the natives. ■The outlook for the coming year is, however, good. Strict economy is being enforced. Taxation reductions have been made and furl her reductions are promised. A death duty lax passed in IO2A lias not yet produced revenue. 1 he principal items in the revenue, tot ailing 21A 1.2.70, are Customs and marine INd.-lfiH, native taxes 11)112, fees id Court L2l Idiot, New Zealand Government subsidy CKi.OOil. The expendin', i-o includes 27A2A permanent charges on public debt, 221,0-1 1 for public works maintenance. A separate account for public works under a loan provided by the New Zealand Governnietil enabled works costing L 21),/ ifi lo be undertaken.

Il is osi incited that the current year's aeeuiliiis will show a surplus oi 270-L There e- a surplus of assets ovru

liabilii ie ; tin ailing 221.202. I rad. prospects are goad. r ! lie uiiiavourublo balance against Samoa has been more than righted and the price of copra which is Samoa’s mainstay, is at tie' moment remarkably good.

European plant riiou.s are, slates the report. having a hard struggle to can - on owing to the long depressed price of cocoa, and the high cost of 1020-2! Chinese immigration. The Government has extended financial assistance to these plantations and they are lor the most part being maintained in good oriler. Lower labour costs are in sight but. adds the report, cocoa prices must l'i-e if these pkintai unis are to become really profitable. There were 2->o C biuose repatriations iliii-iiig Do* your, the number left at March A! lasi berm: l:!2-b On plantations ike ta-k work system continues wherever practicable leaving the labourers free to attend to their own tiHairs when the task is completed. This appears to he giving satisfaction and Ihe repori speaks oi the cordial relations existing betwien Ibe Chinese Consul and the administration, whi'-h would indicate that ihe consul appreciates that the administration endeavours to deal fairly by the labourers. 'him Fanman Board of Trade icport show--, ilia: lolliuvii'j, a period oi great suspicion and ill-lerling between Dm Samoans and the trader-, in 1!'-!). culminating in a boveoit. a board ol i I'ade was established. In its endeavours lo ri" 11 ! ia 1 exploitalie.it the board cm di ,n , 1 11 I'd l to avoid bet oiuing too preocciipieil with "l ruder grievance- an-l to consider wider economic ipiesi ions. Il devoted milch thought to lhe copra iiidii-try, which i describes as ilm lii-' blood of Samoa’- comim n-e. ii being t• s -1 niial l inn vI producer -hall receive as lair a price as the marl-mi permit-. It collecteil all possible data. a lid ill I 111' ret far distal! I lel lire il hopes to place copra producers' beyond I-; acb of exploitation in the same way as bill ter and cheese are placed in New Zealand. The extremely precarious rendition of i-uroa planters, owing to the unorganised comlilieii ol the iiidtlsLrv. pro'll|ileil the Beard id I lade to offer a guaranteed price ol Loll lor unwashed and 2Vj for washed roenn, and in addii ion a luniii- of L"2 per ton 'lor all rei'oa v. 11 iI-Il P'a -sell a i|Ua !i iy ! vsl . As a result I Ile legal price iIOM-dial giv ros ■ 217 in 22!) iton. 'lbis incivased piece, ii not yet really prolital.lc, enable- ibe plain to In oi iry on. and in lbe opinion of Ibe i op;>i ! bus -a vie I idmipenii pin et ep- I : ion banl; - i ■ 111 . i ry. 'him iuo-.t not mm Idr Pal uI e ol 2a - moan imperis for 1222. hoadim; 22-2.-I, was tin' i einpara 11 ve n-e in impart s from Anmrma and A. list ralia. and a fall in Ila sc from the United King-d-.mi end New Zealand. While Ah per i V 111 i. I I 111 per! s c; me f'-o.e All - I IX! li'l and 2' \ per ren: ir )o A on a. I lie New Z- eland nropar! ion i 2il ner moil, compared with A:", per eeol in the previou - .oar. Out m ex-pert s lolalliog CA’f.A.VI. Denmark P-'k till - ai>2. llm Unite I K i !" ".doii i 272,0 bi;, (brman;, L-71.1t '! Dm Fet'd -late- Ml and N -w '/- a lam I nil