SAMOAN COPRA

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1928, Page 4

SAMOAN COPRA

ADM IN f-STR ATI ON’S POI -ICY. The important part which the native copra trade has played in Samoan affairs, and the effect which 1 fie Administration’s policy has had in assisting the natives to market their copra and in improving ihe financial position of the Samoan producers is strikingly shown in the following information published in the “Samoa Times.”:—

“On 16th April, in Apia, copra buyers arc offering £l7 per ton for European (or large parcels of native) copra. For native copra (small parcels) 3.) cents are on offer (£ls 3s 4d per ton). For the prevalence of these prices the Administration's copra-purchase scheme is responsible. This truth will he denied, but any sellers who keen their sales notes can prove for themelves by consulting their records for 1920-27. Now that copra prices are improiod in Apia town, it, is apropos to ask why those in outside districts still languish. Ihe ‘Samoa Times" is reliably informed that the present price in districts dose to Apia (except Yaiinauga and Fnlenta) is only £l3 9s per ton for small lots and in Svni. the rate drops to £lO Is 9d in the outside districts of that island. Tn other, districts of Samoa the rates range between the two last, quoted, working out at £ll -Is 2d per ton for small lots. Such prices are absurdly low for a product which is yielding £27 <>> more per ton on the London inaikct to-day. It is satisfactory to note that conra producers around Apia are receiving improved prices from the meichants whose entrenchments of monopoly have been successfully assaulted. It remains, however, for the Samoan producers in outside districts to awaken to the substantial disability which besets them still. Tn shifting their visual focus from 'far-off Geneva to their own districts there will he profitable results for them. Tt is also of interest to note that the Administration of American Samoa received three tenders lor the f.o.h. purchase of the whole of the native copra in American Samoa for the year commencing March 1. 1928. ranging from 99.65 dollars to 96 dollars per ton. The highest tender, namely, 99.65 dollars per toil, was accepted, and this, at the rilling rate of exchange, means that the native producer is receiving practically £2O per ton f.o.b. As the handling charges do not amount to more than c ] per toil, it will be seen that the native producer In American Samoa is substantially better off than his relatives in ‘Western Samoa. Reference to the evidence given before the Royal Commission shows that at the date of the Coinmissiim’s sitting at Apia the ruling price offered by the merchants was in the vicinity of 213 f.0.b.. Apia.