7

A.—4D

4. Revenue. (a.) From Exports. If the exports of copra from the Tokelaus is as estimated, 365 tons per annum, the revenue will be—

(b.) From Imports. Value of imports estimated at half the value of exports (340 tons copra at £10 per ton = £3,400), based upon copra being sold to merchants at £10 per ton. £ Imports .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • • 1,700 Duty (15 per cent.) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 255 Total revenue— Tax copra .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 500 Export duty .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 340 Import duty .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 255 Trade licenses .. . . .. .. . . .. . . 15 Trading-vessel licenses (two at £25) .. .. .. .. 50 £1,160 5. Expenditure. The present annual expenditure on these islands, not including extraordinary expenditure such as new cement water-cisterns, is estimated as under :— £ Administrative and police staff .. .. .. .. .. .. 125 Medical staff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 120 Medicines .. .. .. .. .. .. 60 Sundries .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 Costs of administration, including visits of Administrator, doctors, and other officials, presents to Natives, &c. .. . . .. .. .. 270 Faipules to attend Fono at Mulinu'u .. .. .. .. 30 Education .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 30 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £710 It is estimated that there will be a balance of revenue over expenditure of approximately £450, which will amply provide for increased expenditure on water-supplies, hospitals, and education. 6. Meteorological. The Natives state that the seasons are very irregular as regards rainfall. A rain-gauge has now been installed at Atafu, with instructions to the Clerk to furnish readings to the Apia Observatory. The only records to date are from the Ist October, 1925, to the 30th June, 1926, during which period the rainfall was 134-73 in. Owing to the absence of humus in the soil the coconut-trees growing in coral are fertilized almost entirely by rain, so that during periods of drought the coconut crop diminishes considerably. Yerv rarely have these islands been swept by a hurricane. The last occurred at Atafu in 1914. Heavy gales were experienced in December, 1925, when the copra crop was badly damaged. 7. Copra and Coconut Plantations. The trees are of varying ages, but are mostly young trees of about twenty to thirty years' growth. From observation of the outlying islets in October, 1925, all the nuts were harvested and trees were bearing very few nuts. Here and there were evidences of replanting, but there was very little uncultivated area available. In comparison with Samoa it is estimated that, for a given area, only 50 per cent, of copra is obtained in the Tokelaus as compared to Samoa, apart from which a larger percentage is used for food for the Natives and food for pigs and fowls.

realized Island. Tax Copra. after deducting j Other Copra. i-'Xptirt Duty Charges. j (il per ion '' Tons. £ | Tons. £ Atafu .. .. .. .. 9 180 56 56 Nukunono .. .. .. 7 140 203 203 Fakaofo .. .. .. 9 180 81 81 Totals .. .. .. 25 500 340 340