SLUMP IN PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 182, 4 August 1930, Page 8

SLUMP IN PRICES.

WESTERN SAMOA PRODUCTS,

SOME HOPE FOR RUBBER.

NATIVES MAKING MORE COPRA.

"Cocoa Is flown in price,.copra is at the lowest figure yet known, and rubber has slumped to snch an extent that we have ceased tapping in the -meantime," said Mr. S. J. Collins, who has just completed the: reorganisation of the repatriated; estates in the .mandated territory qf Western Samoa. Mr. Collins, who'arrived by the Tofua. to-day, had had considerable experience of the Crown estates in Samoa prior to being, appointed to reorganise them. Despite the low prices, Mr. Collins said the position was a little more hopeful at the moment as far as rubber was concerned, for the Dutch appeared to be coming in under the Stevenson restriction scheme. That meant . that the planters in the Malay States and the Dutch Indies would ship only a portion of their crop, and so restrict output that way. It was saving the rubber growers from complete collapse. As far as copra was concerned Mr. Collins stated that the natives were settling down since the recent troubles had" ended, and they would probably soon get back into their old stride. If so, production would increase, which was the only way to combat falling prices. Mr. Collins attributed the low. price of the product to the financial conditions ruling throughout the world I and the operation of a great combine in London between soap and margarine makers. , The organisation was brought into existence to bring down the price, and so far it had succeeded. . Repatriated estates in the mandated territory aggregate approximately 10,000 acres. Of this area 7000 acres are planted in coconuts, 1500 acres in cocoa and 800 acres in rubber. The remainder of the estates is devoted t<3 other tropical products. The leased estates, according .to Mr. Gollins, have had a good season. - Referring to the rubber plantations, Mr. Collins s'aid the trees would be improved by the temporary cessation of tapping.