A.—4

The principal differences from the figures for 1929 to be commented upon are : —lncreases : Drapery—Foreign, £1,036. Agricultural machinery—British, £742. Medicinal liquor —British, £869 ; foreign, £83. Oils, lubricating —British, £387 ; foreign, £107. Paints —British, £273 ; foreign, £32. Fish, preserved—British, £2,315; foreign, £60. Rice, unmilled—British, £740; foreign, £59. Timber shooks—British, £1,836. Decreases : Drapery —Bfitish, £7,011. Fancy goods—British, £1,100; foreign, £107. Perfumery and toilet preparations —British, £226 ; foreign, £650. Glassware — British, £27 ; foreign, £331. Marine engines—British, £588; foreign, £1,019. Hardware —British, £731 ; foreign, £212. Imports for the March quarter, 1931, totalled £41,445 on an estimated basis, as compared with £55,763 for the same quarter of 1930. Exports. The exports for 1930 amounted to £284,515, as compared with £293,938 for 1929, a decline of £9,423. Decreases as compared with 1929 are shown in copra, £39,109, and rubber, £3,152 ; and increases in cacao, £15,008, and bananas, £19,619. Copra.—The export of copra for the calendar year 1930 was 12,285 tons, valued at £166,221, as compared with 12,941 tons, valued at £205,330, for the previous year. The estimated production of copra by Samoans during 1930 was 10,514 tons. Cacao.—Cacao exported during 1930 amounted to 1,007 tons, valued at £61,294, as compared with 677 tons, valued at £46,286, for the previous year. Rubber. —Rubber exported during 1930 amounted to 101 tons, valued at £6,461, as compared with 110 tons, valued at £9,613, for the previous year. Bananas.—Bananas exported during 1930 amounted to 95,867 cases, valued at £44,259, as compared with 53,652 cases, valued at £24,640, for the previous year. The banana export industry has suffered during the first quarter of 1931 owing to storms in December and January, and for a time quantities offering have been less than the shipping-space available. This setback is but temporary, however, and increased shipments are expected before long. Re-exports.—These amount to £5,244 for the calendar year 1930, as compared with £7,270 for the year 1929. The decrease in trade to the Union Islands, Northern Cook, and Ellice Islands is responsible for the lesser figures. The trade statistics are usually prepared and given for calendar years, but in order to bring the position up to date the following is furnished : The quantities of copra, cacao, rubber, and bananas exported during the financial year 1930-31 were —

Shipping. The number of vessels arriving from overseas at the Port of Apia for the financial year ending 31st March, 1931, was 118 vessels, with a registered tonnage of 122,104, as compared with 84 vessels, registered tonnage 102,147, for the same period 1929-30. Outward vessels were 117, with a tonnage of 119,367, in comparison with 86 vessels, with a tonnage of 105,923, for the previous year. The total inward cargo amounted to 15,368 tons and the total outward cargo to 22,968 tons for 1930-31, as compared with inwards 13,824 tons and outwards 21,608 tons for the previous financial year. Wharfages. The total amount collected on account of wharfages for the financial year ending 31st. March, 1931, amounted to £1,318, as compared with £1,218 for the previous year. Port and Service Tax. This item, which is included under the heading of " Import Duties," amounted to £6,135, in comparison with £6,293 for the previous financial year (1929-30). Shipping Agencies. Early in the year the Government steamer " Lady Roberts " became in need of extensive repairs, and in view of her long service it was apparent that the cost of such repairs could not be recouped within the expected remaining period of her usefulness. Accordingly the vessel was put out of commission, and the service to Pago Pago has been maintained by a small commercially owned oil-engined vessel on mail contract. The agency for the " Maui Pomare "is still conducted by this Department. Taxes. The following amounts under the different headings were collected during the financial year 1930-31, including also payments made to the Resident Commissioner, Savai'i, and District Officers at police posts ; —>

15

Copra. Cacao. Rubber. Bananas. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Tons, j Value. Cases. Value. £ £ £ £ ' June quarter, 1930 .. .. 3,194 45,922 130 8.499 56£ 3,145 24,287 11,253 September quarter, 1930 .. 3,527 45,999 145 10,665 Nil 26,046 12,020 December quarter, 1930 .. 2,885 34,014 373 22,423 Nil .. 32,872 15,130 March quarter, 1931 .. 2,739 26,557 170 8,897 41 1 ,*140 18,736 8,661 12,345 152,492 818 50,484 97J 4,285 101,941 47,064