SAMOAN MANDATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 261, 4 November 1935, Page 5

SAMOAN MANDATE.

REPORT TO LEAGUE. TRADE TURNOVER SHRINKS. EXPENDITURE KEPT LOWER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) APIA, October 24. The annual report on the Mandated Territory to the League of Nations, which has been published recently, contains little of special importance from the point of view of people in Samoa. It shows, however, that for the period April 1, 1934, to March 31, 1935, the total trade, as well as export and import values, have largely decreased, as compared with the figures of former yes.rs.

The total trade turnover amounted to only £220,901, as compared with £324,693 for the previous year, a decrease of almost 32 per cent. The total trade thus amounted to only half the volume of the pre-war period, 1910-12. Of the total trade turnover, exports amounted to £128,117 (£173,837 in 1933), and imports to £92,784 ( £1.50,850 in 1933), showing a favourable balance of £35,333. Imports in 1934 were 72.4 per cent of the value of exports, as compared with 86.8 per cent in 1933, the decrease being due to the acute economic conditions prevailing during the year. Co"pra Exports Declinc. Exports of Samoan produce for the calendar year are given as follow:— 1933. —Copra, 11,526 tons, value, £101,347; cocoa, 899 tons, £41,813; bananas, 81,983 cases, £26,999. 1934.- —Copra, 8948 tons, £60,654; cocoa, 1027 tons, £29,498; bananas, 96,225 cases, £35,796.

Copra, exports were the lowest since the 1916-18 period, while cocoa and banana exports were the highest in quantity, though not in value. It is safo to predict, however, that for the present financial year, owing to better crops and higher produce prices, exports and imports are certain to show a large increase <w~r b\=.t year's** - ares.

The revenue of the Administration in. 1934-35 amounted to £78,808, against £90,613 in 1933-34, the Departments of Health and Customs showing the largest decreases. Expenditure is given as £70,505, against £89,955 in 1933-34, nearly all Departments showing a decrease. This leaves a small surplus for the financial year of £2303. Tho Administration now holds an accumulated surplus for the past, few years of £15,755.

The administrative staff shows only slight changes. It is pointed out that of tho officers in charge of departments, those in charge of education, health, native, public works, postal and radio, lands and survey, and police have an average Samoan service of fourteen and a half years each. Against this, much shorter periods of Samoan service are shown for the important office holders of Administrator, Collector of Customs, Treasurer, Commissioner of Labour and Public Trustee, Auditor and Harbourmaster, and well as Secretary to the Administration.

In regard to crime and administration of law, statistics given in the report show an increase of approximately 50 per cent in criminal offences reported during the year: Most of the cases reported, however, are not of a. serious nature. Two charges of murder came before the Court, of which one charge against a Samoan woman was dismissed. Total Population 45,000? The infant mortality rate for 1934 is given at 104.8 per 1000 registered births. This rate is high and likely to continue so till the instructional work undertaken by the Administration among the natives can bear results. Population figures for 1934 are again based on the count taken in 1932-33 during the Yaws campaign. As it has been pointed out previously, these figures are quite inaccurate, and the figure given for the total population (53,087), is much too high; 45,000 would probably be more correct. The numbers of persons of European and Samoan descent are much too low, many of these being counted as native Samoans; a fair estimate would be about 4000. The number of those of Chinese and Samoan blood (also counted as Samoans) may be estimated at about 1000.

The number of Chinese labourers in Samoa, 632 on January 1, 1934, decreased during the year by 129, only 503 being counted on December 31, 1934.