THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1907. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAMOA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 6 April 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1907. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAMOA.

Whatever may be said for or against the Germans as a colonising nation it will be admitted by any impartial pjrson that in Samoa at any rate they have brought order out of chaos, and have directed all their energies towards the legitimate development of the natural resources of their possessions in the Navigator Group. The growth of the planting industry in Samoa has been considerable during the past few years. To-day one may see the fruits of much hard work for the returns are now only just coming to hand. Out of about 100,000 acres held by a few large planting companies, and a score or so of small planters occupying from 50 to 200 acres, there are between 15,000 and 20,000 acres now under Eux'opean direction being put down in cocoanuts, cacao and rubber. Coffee grows luxuriantly, but does not pay the dividends that other staples do, and has now been practically aoandoned. Recent advices quote cacao at lljid per lb, and at present all Samoan stocks are being held for a rise in the market, as indicating the growth of this particular industry it may De stated that the yield in 1905 was 23 tons; in 1906 147 tons, and in 1907 it is estimated to reach 400 tons. There are live cacao planting companies, British and German, who have come into existence during the past six years. Rubber is a no less important staple, and it has already received much profitable attention. There are now about 3,000 acres under rubber, and being planted. Copra is another remarkably profitable crop just now. The high price paid for it during the past few years has done an immense amount of good

to the islands [generally, and particularly to Samoa. The German Government are leaving nothing to chance in connection with the development of the planting industry. Highly qualified experts are sent out to advise and assist planters and their services and special knowledge are very readily utilised. When the following figures are taken into consideration the importance of Samoa to New Zealand will be better understood:— In 1900 the imports from Australia and Mew Zealand amounted to 1,178,400 marks. In that year the imports from Germany amounted to 446,774 marks. In 1903 the imports from Australia and New Zealand were valued at 1,387,301 marks, and those from Germany at 587,000 marks. In 190G the imports from the British Australasian colonies were 1,736,551 marks, and from Geimany 705,191 marks. It will thus be seen that of the total of import business Australasia secures considerably more than double that given to German firms. The bulk of this business goes to New Zealand. In 1903 Samoa took food stuffs from Australasia cf the value of 526,340 marks, and in 1906 these importations reached 790,255 marks. Hardware, which one would think would be imported direct from Germany, was landed in 1903 to the value of 59,384 marks. In 1906 the importations were worth 64,793 marks. Timber and machinery showed a slight falling off, for in 1903 they were valued at 185,100 marks, whereas in 1906 they amounted to 151,110 marks. Under the heading of sundries, however, there is an increase from 236,993 marks in 1903 to 287,954 marks in 1906, and the total importations from Australasia , as has been previously shown, exceeded those from Germany in 1903 by 880,301 marks, and in 1906 by 1,031,360 marks. It would seem that Germany is really anxious for Samoa to progress upon legitimate and peaceful lines. Judging from the reports of 'British residents, in the group the German administration is extending the hand of friendship to all who prove themselves worthy and settle in the Islands.