A.—4

It appears that food reserves in most villages are receiving a fair amount of attention, it apparently being learned from past experience that neglect to maintain sufficient food-supplies invariably leads to hardship. In some villages the Women's Committees are engaged in the work of cleaning up the taro plantations, which fact would indicate that in some places the heads of the families have been absent from their villages for some time past. European Plantations. (See also chart in Appendix D.) Taking everything into consideration, the European planters have experienced a very good season. Cacao crops in particular have been above the average, and the prices obtained for the product very satisfactory. More attention has been given to some of the minor industries, such as papain, the export of which has attained this year a value of £790, as compared with £61 for the previous year. This industry has proved to be a profitable one, and, as there is a steady demand abroad for the product, a further increase in the export figures should be shown this year. The European plantations, with a few exceptions, are in excellent condition, and the prospects for another good season are bright. The banana industry has engaged the a number of planters, and although the area at present under cultivation is relatively small it is anticipated that it will materially increase during the year. Coming to the output of cacao during 1927, a considerable improvement both in quality and quantity is manifested as compared with the previous year. The figures are — Tons. Cacao exports from Ist January, 1927, to 31st December, 1927 .. .. 792 Stocks on hand at 31st December, 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 119 911 Less stocks on hand at 31s - December, 1926 .. .. .. .. 154 Production for year 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 757 Production for year 1927 .. .. .. .. .. .. 757 Production for year 1926 .. .. .. .. .. .. 495 Showing increase of .. .. .. .. .. 262 The Produce Inspector reports that the quality of cacao produced during the period was far above that of any previous year. Of the 757 tons produced, only 5j tons was graded as inferior, and 35 tons shipped on its merits, the balance being up to the standard required by the Government. Rubber. Practically all areas under this cultivation are now being tapped, and, with the additional acreage recently acquired and operated by the New Zealand Reparation Estates, the output for the next few years should —provided always, of course, that the market remains a profitable one — witness a substantial and progressive increase in the export of the product. As was anticipated, the output for the year exceeded 150 tons, and is easily a record for the Territory. Figures relating to production are as hereunder :— Tons. Export of rubber from Ist January, 1927, to 31st December, 1927 .. .. 158 Stocks on hand at 31st December, 1927 .. . . .. .. 16 174 Less stocks on hand at 31st December, 1926 .. .. .. .. 8 Production for year 1927 .. .. .. .. .. .. 166 \ Production for year 1927 .. .. .. .. .. .. 166 Production for year 1926 .. .. .. .. .. 41 Showing increase of .. .. .. .. 125 Cotton. Ginning operations of the season's crop were completed in February, and the total output was a little over 2 tons. As compared with the previous year's output we are approximately 1 ton deficient. Practically no interest has been taken during the past year in this industry by the Samoans, and the output referred to has been obtained mainly from European sources. As a result of this the Administration decided no longer to subsidize the industry, and the price offered for the coming season's crop has now been reduced by 2d. per pound. It has been demonstrated by experiment that, given moderate attention, an output of 800 lb. to I,ooolb. per acre of seed cotton can be obtained, and that grown on new cultivations in conjunction with cacao or coconuts it is a payable catch-crop.

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