29

A.—4

Astronomical observations aro made once a week to check the Observatory standard clock. A small radio receiving-set has been installed, in January, to obtain tho Honolulu time-signals. BOARD OF TRADE. The second year of its existence has proved one of considerable activity on the part of the Samoa Board of Trade. The; functions and general piolicy of the Board were briefly set out in last year's report, and. on those lines work has since been carried out, prominence being given to the encourage ment of industry. Agricultural Show and Fair. The first Samoan Agricultural Show and Fair was held on the 2nd and 4th June,' 1923, and, considering that this was the first function of the kind promoted in Samoa, it was very successful. Especially was this so in the Industrial Section, where the number of exhibits far exceeded the expectations of tho most sanguine. The; show was undoubtedly of great educational value and benefit to the community generally, and, it is hoped, will prove the forerunner of similar and larger displays in future. Copra. There was a steady decline in London -values during the first few months of the year under review, the price touching bottom in July, when it stood at £22 15s. per ton. From that date the market gradually recovered, until in January last copra stood at the very satisfactory figure of close upon £30 per ton. Local buying-prices moved in sympathy, reaching as high as 3| cents per pound in Apia. London values receded somewhat subsequently, and at the end of March the price stood at £27 ss. Witli a view to increasing the; quantity antl quality of the copra produced by the Samoans, a district competition was commenced on the Ist January last. The islands have been divided up into a number of copra districts, and it is proposed to award a cash prize of £50 to the district showing for the year — (a) the largest increase in output, (b) the most marked improvement in quality, (c) the; greatest improvement in care of plantations. In addition to the cash prize, shields will be awarded to the best district in Savai'i and the .best district in Upolu. These shields will be competed for annually. As a further aid to inoreased production, the Samoans are being encouraged to erect small hot-air driers, especially in districts where the weather is more or less uncertain. Competitive; designs for a small hot-air drier to be erected at the expense of and for the use of Samoan families wore invited. A suitable, design was eventually accepted, and a sample drier erected at the Agricultural Farm. This was duly demonstrated, and proved so acceptable that a number are now on order for different parts of the Territory. The drier is a very small, compact affair, with a capacity of about 1,000 lb. weight of green copra. Cacao. For the first nine months of the year just closed the outlook for local cacao-growers was most depressing. Not only were the market piriees bad and the demand for this product very shbrt indeed, but the crop itself was an exceedingly poor one owing to adverse weather conditions. In January last, however, prices abroad impjrovod appreciably, as did demands. At first inquiries were slow, but eventually demand for supplies poured in from London, San Francisco, Australia, and New Ze;aland, until the stocks in hand were almost completely disposed of. Further, the new year's crop was an exceedingly good one : tho exports for tho March quarter, 1924, totalled 296 tons ; or 75 tons more than the total expjort for the preceding twelve months. Mat and Basket Making. The; possibilities of finding a market abroad for Native-made mats and baskets is be;ing investigated. It is feared, however, that on account of the comparatively high prices asked by the Natives for their labour, and the irregularity of manufacture and supply, the prospects of success are poor at present. Balance of Trade. The total trade for the calendar year ending 31st December last amounted to £557,655, of which imports contributed £268,881 and exports £288,774. Tho balance of trades has bee;n well maintained, the exports keepring ahead of the imports, in spite of the excessive; impiortations of 1920-21. The following summary of the figures for the past ten years shows the pjosition : — Imports. Exports. Total Trade. £ £ £ 1914 .. .. 236,239 220,519 456,758 1915 .. .. 267,091 262,389 529,480 1916 .. .. 180,340 235,415 415,755 1917 .. .. 301,173 320,444 621,617 1918 .. • .. 309,396 306,640 616,036 1919 .. .. 291,368 532,500 823,868 1920 .. .. 561,153 386,587 947,740 1921 .. .. 408,892 241,539 650,431 1922 .. .. 282,939 365,610 648,549 1923 .. .. 268,881 288,774 557,655 £3,107,472 £3,160,417 £6,267,889