GERMAN SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 84, 4 September 1914, Page 6

GERMAN SAMOA.

" OXLY IiJCit.VAX .SPOKE." THE (.iElLVi.i.\ i v.y\(j x'HOC'i .%■> ' DRLTISH CO.NStJLAII KEPOIiT.S. Xctt' Zealanders will have an extra zest in the capture ol Samoa >\'hen thev read oi the recent German poliey to minimise, the Jintish i actor tiiere. A \7vid insight into the attempts made a> Germanise Samoa is contained m tiie Hntisli Consul's last report on German Samoa, presented to the British iarlianient a few months ago. I" its extreme anxiety to increase the use oi the German lnii<|uagv, the Government abolished a former privilege oi using English in the imperial Court at Apia. All Court proceedings had i<> be held in the German language* Interpreters were provided for witnesses, but; not tor parties to suits. Only in tlie Customs and Post Offices was English allowed, and even then it was not used it the officials did not understand the language. The Consul pointed out that English is .d far -more importance to the residents of Samoa., because of the trade with Ameriutn Samoa, Fiji, ,\ew Zealand and Australia.

TAXES PLENTIFUL. Herman colonising methods have ii"Ver been popular, ami the English Consul's report gives a few facts bearing on the lcaf-ou why. Annual licenses for professions and trades were as follows: 1 loteikeeper ,C4O, brewer o,- distiller .Cl 5, aerated water manu!'aci,ur.er Xl 5, ice works £lO, printing oilice ,C 5, butchers, bakers and photographer, £2 lus, dentists and lawyers £1 10-,, physicians and land -Mm-eyors £lO. a.iictiu-m-er's and eoniniisison agents i' 7 Ids, law agents -ill 5.5. The commercial travllcrs did not e.scape; they were taxed from 10s up to £2-5 annually. Stores paid ,Cl 5 up to (JSO, on a sliding .scale, according to business done. liven dwelling houses and boats came into the taxation net. Europeans were taxed ,l'l os each annually, married wale natives -U 4,5, and single natives Xl, this tax having to be paid ill cash and not in copra, as the Americans permit in the neighboring island of Tuluila. As for popular representation on tint lloverning Council, that appeared to the Oermau rulers of the island to be a matter-best left in the Governor's hands. The report states that the Oovenunent Council consists, besides those of its I members wiio occupy oiiirinl positions i;i the (jovernme.nt, of'eight persons selc.'i'cd by'the Covernor, and chosen ironi ill.leading merchants and planters. "The votes of the general public as regards the eleclion of these gentlemen are presented to him for -his iitioi-iji-.ile-u on the point, but he is not- compelled to set in accordance with them . The votes merely s'liovv the poipular wish in the matter. 1 '

English capital invested 111 companies operating in .Samoa is oiiic-iully returned at £I«S,«H), while Oonnau companies have a capital of £341,50!). The crports in 11)1-2 consisted 01 copra valued at .C2l);!,4!)-1, cocoa J>oans £ !i,!lS.'i, cotl'ie £5, tobaco £52, kama CIIMO. rubber £5538, cocoanuts Thcsr cenrmoilities were sent, to the following countries:—Australasia, £102.£J3, (lennany £12(!.TI)0. U.S.'A. Clft,o2S. otlier countries £II,IKI. The impor:, busings was largely in English hands, tlic details of values for IM2 beint!;: Unitc-il Kingdom' WIBS. Australasia £ISI.SHI. (lermany £42,214, United States £22:141>; other countries £12,374. Beer.wines, tobacco, arms and gunpowder accounted

For the information of intending planters or investors in land, it may bo stated that.country land is obi unable in blocks of 100 acres upwards, at reasonable rates, cither as freehold or on forty-vear leases, at from Is to 8s per acre of annual rental. Both town and country lands arc increasing in value. For example, in the vicinity of Apia, 'uncultivated land edls at £2O to £llO per acre, cultivated land in cocoannts or cacao £SO to £6O per are. In other parts of Upolo, land with a frontage to public roads runs from £3 to £lO per acre, and bush land is available, for £2 to £fi per acre. An area of 2500 acres of virgin bush land at Haua Upolu, being a portion of an estate there, was lately sold at £5 per acre. In' the island of Savaii land is. worth from 8s to £2 per. acre. AH nominal prices, not obtainable under forced sale. The Auckland Syndicate has disposed of its land in Upolu and Savaii, about 12,000 acres, to a German planter, fl'art of the properties thus sold is planted with cocoanut trees, many in full bearing. \ The current rate of interest on firstclass mortgages of houses and land is 8 per cent, per annum. Upolu is said to contain 130,000 acres of cultivable, good land, of which 70,000 to 80,000 acres lave been alienated to foreigners. On Sa,vaii from 50,000 to 60,000 acres have been alienated; a very large area there is still in possession of the natives.