SAMOA'S YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 212, 8 September 1938, Page 6

SAMOA'S YEAR.

REPORT TO LEAGUE.

TRADE BEST SINCE 1928.

INFAKT MORTAISTT FALLS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) APIA, August 30.

Tie annual report on Western Samoa submitted to the League of Natrons toy the New Zealand Government, for the year ended March 31, 1938, has been issued. The report gives the usual statistical material and details regarding the work of the various Government Departments. It mention* that the policy changes decided on by the New Zealand Government are in operation now. „ .. A significant Admission of the failure th , e «*penm«nt. of the Governmentovvned New Zealand Reparation Estate to replace C3.ine.se plantation laW Samoan labour ia contained in the report. It: t» stated, that "very few y® 'Y®? ave . availed themselves of facilitite. to refikle permanently on thfe plantations, and the. Teeident Samoans have been limited to two drier attendants.

Health conditions during the vear under review compare favourably with the preceding year, and a striking reduction in infant mortality was recorded. This was ascribed to 'intensified baby welfare work and progressive medical and sanitary education among the natives. During the year IG.OOO fales were visited, and I*B2o village inspections were carried out.

Women's village committees now total 725. These collaborate with the Medical Department and the native medical practitioners.

Trade in 1937 was the best since 15)28 trade .reaching, £020,304, against for the last year, an increase of 44.16 per cent. This was mainly due to better prices for copra and cocoa during the first half of 1937. and an ihcrease ,in „ banana exports, which reached the record figure of 187,755 cases.

. Prices for copra and cocoa, however, dropped considerably at the end of 1937, though banana exports are expected to exceed last year's figures in 1938.

As a result of the improved trade conditions the financial year of the Samoan Administration was the best for mamy years, and a surplus of £380 is shown after the payment of £5500 in direct redemption of debt, the setting aside of £5000 for the proposed replacement of the bridge over the Vaisigano River, and a further £8500 for the 193839 building programme of the administration^

The accumulated surplus at March 31, 1938, was £24,561, apart from reserves for replacement of assets and for building, purposes totalling £25,000. The tota.l revenue of the administration in 1937-38 was £139,450, the highest since 1920-21,