SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19502, 4 December 1926, Page 9

SAMOA.

Sir, —"Ex-Planter's" lotter in Friday's | Herald makes interesting reading and it is unfortunate that there is no one of sufficient influence in New Zealand to convince thrtJ authorities of the potential goldmine that, is being discarded in the developtnwili of robber at Samoa, Samoa is essentially suitable for rubber growing and although the trees require a longer period than in other countries to come into bearing, the girth of the trees is correspondingly greater. The idea of sending s> Government official to the East in order to glean. information is certainly farcical if it is a fact. Your correspondent, however, overlooks the most important factor, and that is the quostior. of labour. From my own knowledge in Malay and in view of the fluctuating; market• I consider it is hopeless en'leayour- > ins to produce rubber at a profit under existing labour conditions there, while native labour Is costing 500 per cent mora than in any other nibhor-pioducing, country, apart from rice being supplied' free. Tn Malay recently the Writer produced lib- of rub'ber to the aero at an f.o.b. cost of 7d per lb., forward contracts for same realising on an averagfi 2s 8d par lb.—and this during slump time. If it can be done in Malay, why not in Samoa, where there is every attraction for Tamil labour? i Tttak.