SAMOAN TROUBLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 27 September 1943, Page 6

SAMOAN TROUBLES

SLY GROG PENALTIES

MUDDLED PRICE CONTROL

(0.C.) APIA, Aug. 17. Western Samoa continues to enjoy unparalleled prosperity and a peaceful and undisturbed existence in the midst of a war-torn world and a turbulent Pacific. However, where there are lights there are shades, as is only natural. Some thorny problems are disturbing the peace and equanimity of this small community. What we, generally speaking, suffer from, is not want or war sacrifices but inefficiency and the vagaries of official economic and social policies. , .. . One problem, which much agitates public opinion, and is also to the fore in other island territories, as in New Zealand and Australia, is the "sly-grog" problem, that is, the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor. Owing to the great ease of manufacture and the enormous profits derived from these illegal sales, it is difficult to cope with or to completely suppress this nefarious trade. A number of local-born Europeans and Samoans have been sentenced to short or long gaol sentences recently. But in a case in which a Chinese restaurant keeper, Leung Wai, was charged with being the "occupier of premises where intoxicating liquor was found,' this man who is reputed to have accumulated a fortune from his trade, was fined the amount of £100 and evaded a gaol sentence. Sale of "Bush Gin" '

A Samoan, who was found carrying a bottle of "bush gin," was sent to gaol for four months, and a localborn European, for the sale of one bottle of "bush gin" received a gaol sentence of four months. The injustice of this proceeding is deeply rankling in the mind of Europeans and Samoans alike. The matter has been brought — unsuccessfully —to the attention of the Administrator by the Hon. A. Stowers, M.L.C. The Samoan representatives, assembling shortly in the Fono of Faipule, are also taking the matter up, asking explanations from the Administration.

Amongst the commercial community and the general public another source of irritation is the inefficient handling of price control in Samoa. The worst side of price control as operating here, is that the numerous regulations and price orders are not enforced or controlled at all. The authorities rely on the buying public to report cases of violation of the price control orders and thus only very few cases are brought to the notice of the authorities, while violations of the price laws are widespread, particularly in country districts, where goods are scarce and Samoans willing to pay any price to get what they want, and consequently traders had never such a prosperous time as the present. Import Restrictions There also seems to be a considerable muddle in regard to the control and allocation of imports. While, for instance, the Administration exercises a practical monopoly, over the importation of rice into the territory, this monopoly has now led to a total lack of rice supplies for months, the Administration maintaining that rice is not needed for Samoans, but only for Europeans and Chinese. The export of taro and ta'amu to American Samoa has been prohibited by the Administration until further notice. There is a shortage of Samoan and European foodstuffs (rice, flour, biscuits, etc.) in the territory at the present time and the export of taro, of which large quantities are shipped to Pago Pago in ! order to obtain the better prices ruling in the neighbouring territory, seriously affected local supplies. Shortages -of rice, vegetables and eggs, not to say anything of local fish, which are practically unobtainable, are keenly felt by the European population. Eggs are selling for 6/ and if per dozen, while fowls fetch up to 15/ and 18/ each *