Trader Protests in Samoa Inquiry

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 161, 28 September 1927, Page 13

Trader Protests in Samoa Inquiry

PURCHASE OF COPRA ACTION of administration fladic .—Press Association Special. APIA, Monday. The first witness was Mr. Brady, the manager in Samoa for Messrs. Burns, phllp. Limited. He said he had taken n 0 j>art in the political agitation, but he objected to the action of the Administration in buying copra from the natives. The prices which the Administration paid ’"'ere higher than the mercharts could give. The merchants tad Worked out their prices on the London returns, and all paid the same rates. The establishment of a trading station and the purchase of stock cost £I,OOO or more. For the Administration to compete with the merchants, who wore charged substantial licence fees, was, he said, unfair. He subm tted figures to show that the merchants paid fair prices. The Crown counsel, Mr. V. R. Meredith n cross-examination, sought to .how from the witness’s figures that the profits of the merchants were Greater than the witness had contended. The net cost f.o.b. in Apia varied, hut the purchase price was . va ’ r ied. The witness said the advances made by the Administration were practically a purchase, as it was improbable that, there would be any surplus from the London sales. His firm paid taxes and licence fees to the Administration and was, he contended, entitled to protection.—A. and X.Z. ■