SAMOA COMMISSION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 September 1927, Page 8

SAMOA COMMISSION

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD PROHIBITION AND HOME BREW. PURCHASE OF COPRA. (Special to Press Association— By’ Radio.) Apia, Sept. 27. Prohibition occupied the attention of the Commission to-day. Mr. Braisby, Inspector of Police, stated that home brewing was unknown in 1920. Since prohibition commenced intoxicating liquors had been brewed. The higheart percentage of alcohol in home brew that had been brought before the Court was eight per cent. The usual quantities ran from six and four per cent. Exceeding three per cent, was against the law. Many cases had been before the Court Some European Samoans about Apia drank this stuff. He did not know that Samoans living in Samoa drank much. Coolies and others distilled spirits on the plantations. “Cocoa juice” contained from 45 to 75 pei cent, proof spirit. He was not prepared to sav whether Samoa would be better oft under the permit system. That was a matter for the Administration. COPRA BUSINESS. John Dowling, manager in Apia for ’Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd., Fiji, deposed that on local profits his firm was unable to pay prices for copra equal to those given by the Administration. In districts where his firm bought for £lO 1/8 per ton the profit was £1 17/5, less overhead charges. Around Apia they paid £l3 8/10 and the profits were practically neglible. Tn the six months to August 31 last his firm s trading station in the Apia district yielded profits of only 1.14 per cent, on copra and merchandise. It objected to the Administration interfering with private enterprise by purchasing copra at higher prices than private enterprise could afford. A common price had been agreed upon by the Apia merchants, hut it was a fair priqe. If it were unfair it would induce other traders to come in and look for the cream.

Mr. Meredith: How long have Hedstroms been here? Witness: Six months. Mr. Meredith: Were you here to share the cream? Witness; We came here to extend our business. We now see the possibility of the Administration elaborating the present scheme and eventually taking over the whole copra purchasing business. Incidental to the reiterated contentions of witness that the Administration was buying copra straight out, which the Administration specifically had denied before the Commission, Sir Charles Skerrett remarked that Apia seemed to be “a garden of suspicion.” Walter Voight, secretary for P. C. Fabrieus, Ltd., Apia, claimed that he could conscientiously say they could not pav prices equal to the Administion. The margin was insufficient for safe trading. William Burnett, secretary for Nelsons, lid., testified similarly. Questions of Sir Charles Skerrett as to how the merchants in Apia arrived at mutual buying prices, elicited a reply not in agreement with previous witnesses, Sir Charles Skerrett said that it was extraordinary that not one of five competent witnesses could fully explain or agree as to the basis.