WESTERN SAMOA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4834, 25 May 1925, Page 4

WESTERN SAMOA.

GROWTH OF COPRA OU ITUT. ______ \ The Administrator of Western Samoa, Major-General Richardson, in h : ts annual report, which has jus-; reached the Government,, makes some interesting observations on the improved outlook for trade, and on th : ht'ialth of the Samoan community undei his charge. The output of copra for the pas' throe years has, says the report, ebupiderably exceeded that of any similar period in the history of this territory—a sure indication not only of the increasing prosperity of the European population, but alsq of the progress and steady development of the native race, which produces 75 p?' - cent of the total output and provide:.practically all its own needs from the proceeds of this crop. The increase in the production of cacao has been most marked, namely, from 399 tons in 1923 to 975 tons last year—an amount very little short of the tot:;! produced hi the record year. Moist, ot this cacao is produced from the Nev Zealand Government cacao plantations, which were leased last year. It can, therefore, be assumed that, planters have, during their first yeaof lease, been able to prove that these plantations are a good Investment. The care taken to grade all cacao for export has already produced good results, and it is anticipated will increase the demand in the world’s markets for the very high quality of cacao which is grown hi Samoa'. The market values of the main products arc at present fairly good, and the outlook is torbmising, as is also the outlook for visible crops. The balance of trade being also on the right side to the value of £87,000 enables him tb confidently predict that the present year will also be a prosperous one for Samoa:

Discussing the health of the Natives General Richardson says : “There; is a very marked improvement in tne health of the natives, and a conspicuous absence of the unsightly cases of yaws, which as recently as twa years ago was so prevalent. The infantile mortality is, however, still veiy high, and will continut, to be so as long as the mothers treat sickness by their old Samoan customs and continue, to feed their infants on indigestible taro. This is a mattei cf such great importance to tne future welfare of the race that the Chief Medical -Officer has formulated a child welfare scheme which will be put into effect this year. The successful results already obtained in ■one district by Dr Roberts, who has given her services voluntarily to educate and interest the mothers in the care and feeding of their children are proof of what can be achieved in other districts if a sufficient n'umbci of trained nurses are available lev this important work.

The vital statistics for the past year are also an indication of improvement in the health of the natives, the natural increase for the year being the highest on record, namely. 1123, or 3.26 per cent, of tnopopulation. The Samoan race cam therefore, be regarded as a healthy and increasing one, with prospects of doubling its present numbers within the next 40 or 50 yeans.” The achievements of medical science in rescuing native races from the lavages of epidemics and in the saving of infant life) are clearly demonstrated ■in the medical reports from Samoa which are also a testimony to the wise administration of the New Zealand Government in so strongly suppoiting this branch of a(ministrative work.”