SAMOAN COPRA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 310, 31 December 1940, Page 6

SAMOAN COPRA.

INDUSTRY RELIEVED. N.Z. GOVERNMENT BUYS CROP (0.0.) ' APIA. December in. A welcome rciief for the html struggling copra industry of flic territory has been the purchase by the New Zealand Government of 4000 tons of copra, practically tlie whole of the accumulated copra stocks nt present stored in Apia shed*. Recently a hundred tons of copra was shipped to Xew Zealand for experimental use as pig feed in connection with the campaign for Increased production of pigs, particularly baconere. The experiments having proved wueceweful, the Xp«- Zealand Government approved the purchase of the Western Sαmoan copra, which releases considerable capital tied up in the accumulation. The transaction affects ecven copra buying firms ns well no the New Zealand Reparation Estates. The Dominion Government will provide for transportation. The quantity of copra purchased represent* approximately one-third of the territory's annual production, though the 11)40 production ■will probably be far ibelow normal.' It is possible that Xew Zealand Government may purchase further lota, though there ore at present no indications regarding this. Prospects look bright for a good cocoa crop, the present local price ranging between £35 and £40 t>er ton.