FEELING SLUMP

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 September 1932, Page 5

FEELING SLUMP

(Press. Assn.-

SAMOA'S POSITION LOW PRICE OF COPRA HAS C . ADVERSE EFFECT ON REVENU'E NATIVES '/SITTING BACK"

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

Wellington, Wednesday. The Samoan correspondent of the Press Association writing from Apia ■ on August 18, states that Samoa'like the noighhoui'ing islands, is feeling the effects of the low priees received for eopra. Until there is an increase, no marked improve-ment in the trade is likely, for the bulk of the copra is produced from native plantations, and at the present prices the natives are inclined to sit down on the job, not getting out the quantity they would if the prices were better. Retail stores in Apia, and at the trading stations outside are complaining of the lack of business/ as they depend chiefly on native trade for their turnover. The Administration also suffered as the main source of revenue, the ' customs, has been affected by the reduce-d pr oduction and the low prices received. Merchants are still restrict-ir-g their buying with the result that the imports have fallen and are likely to go lower. Cocoa prices remain fairly firm, but the production is small and not nearly sufficient to offset the loss in the production of copra. The depression in other countries has not been felt to nearly the same extent in Samoa. There are few Europeans aetually out of work and the Samoans could never be classed as un employed. Wrhen the class of work they are engaged in is slack, they go back to the villages and plantations, where there is always sufficient native food. There is little chance of their ever having to face starvation eiiher from want or climatic conditions.