COPRA FOR CANADA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 211, 6 September 1941, Page 5

COPRA FOR CANADA

SAMOAN PRODUCT SOLD

MORE TRADE WITH PAGO PAUO

(0.c.) APIA, August 23. Though conditions in Western Samoa can hardly be called prosperous or even normal in an economic sense, a slight improvement, due ito two separate causes, has been jnoticeable recently. The first is the ['absorption of a considerable number] of skilled and unskilled European land Samoan workers in the construction of the U.S. naval base at Pago Pago, resulting in a steady flow of money from Pago Pago to Apia and a large export of Samoan foodstuffs to a profitable market.

The second reason for the improvement is the sale of large quantities! of Samoan copra to Canada which; will at last clear the large accumulations held in Apia sheds. It is noped that transport will be available in the near future to move the copra to its destination. The price of copra has not yet been raised to the producers, but it is hoped there will be an advance soon, to stimulate copra cutting, as has been done in Fiji. Merchants are willing to raise the price, if the Administration refrains from reimposing the copra export duty.

An unusual abundance of rain during the present "dry" season has greatly benefited banana and cocoa plantations. Banana exports, however, are still suffering from the shortage of shipping.