WESTERN SAMOA

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1939, Page 4

WESTERN SAMOA

ADMINISTRATION REPORT. [FEK PUEHB ASSOCIATION.,! WELLINGTON, August 21. “Obedience to the general law of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa. 1 roceeds satisfactorily,” stated the animal report, of the administration of I tie territory for the year ended March 111 last, for presentation to the I’ernmnonl. Mandates Commission in Geneva. The report, which has been presented in the House of Representatives, states that there was a considerable measure of village self-govern-ment in the ordering ci' those activities which rest not on lew but on social custom.

The total trade of the territory receded considerably from the figure of the previous year, being £444,877 compared with £t>20,304 in 1037-38. Ibis recession was due mainly to redirned prices for copra and cocoa. While cocoa exports increased from 1253 ions to 1617 tons, values decreas- , d from £71,138 to £59,6(1!). Banana c.xpoits again increased, the record IP 'm y of 205,715 cases of a value ol £77.143 being shipped during the year. i biie accounts for tile year showed a ncmiii'tl surplus of £ 1570, compared with £3BO in tiie previous year; but the ultimate financial position was, as anticipated, less favourable. Total revenue for the year was £123,800, and expenditure totalled £119,233. NIUE ISLAND. '] he report on Niue Island administration for the last limmcial year states that the people are among the best workers in the Pacific. This, it is claimed, is mainly due to the difficulties they experience in growing their food supplies, there being very little soil available. Imports for the calendar year 1938 totalled £16,380, and export's £ 15.045. The. reduction was due to the fact that very little copra was made, owing to the very low price obtainable and also to the shortage ol bananas ’available for shipment.

The report of the Cook islands administration states that revenue tor the last financial year amounted to £48,96(1, and expenditure to £58.016. leaving a deficit. of more than £9OOO. Subsidies from the New Zealand Government amounted to £21,000. which figure was included in the revenue. Exports for the calendar year 1938 were valued at £78,184, and imports /. £74.789. Here also there was a drop in the export of copra, only 908 tons being shipped, compared with 162!) tons the previous year.