POLICY IN SAMOA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18316, 5 August 1921, Page 6

POLICY IN SAMOA

EX-GERMAN ESTATES TO BE WORKED BY CROWN. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. The New Zealand Government has decided to retain all the large ex-German cocoanut and cocoa plantations in the mandated territory (Samoa) and to carry them on as dominion’ Crown estates. There are several smaller plantations, which, owing to their size and isolation, cannot conveniently and economically be worked and managed from the central organisation in Apia, and these it is proposed to sell or lease. A similar course is to be followed with respect to the trading stations and business premises of the ex-German firms scattered around the islands of Upolu and Savii. Mr Lee was obviously displeased by the criticism of New Zealand’s administration and the oft-repeated charge by white residents in Samoa that the public service is ridiculously. over-staffed (says the Sydney Morning Herald). “The actual facts,” he declared, “ do not sustain the charge.” He went on to refer to criticism by an old resident of. Apia (Mr H. J. Moors), an American citizen, which had appeared in a Queensland journal. “References, to the part this gentleman has played from time to time in Samoan affairs are,” Mr Lee said, "to bo found in New Zealand and Imperial dispatches, some of them dating as far back as 1879. In the circumstances, I do not regard his statements seriously. It. is only to bo expected that there would be criticism of the Government from the white residents of Samoa who have had trading interests there for many years.” In these Samoan Crown estates Mr Leo believes that New Zealand possesses an asset the value of wbmh will onlv bo apparent when the world’s market for copra and cocoa become stabilised and labour difficulties ere overcome. It had been found essentinl for the mainten-uce of European plantations—moat c f .-(del, were now the property of the X--w Zeub-nd Government to continue the svstem cf imoorted labour for definite period* under ront’-W It was generally agreed tbnt imported labour wns ind'snensivl-le. amt that outside Polynesian nnd Mebnesinn labour, which was ouite nnobtiinab’e, Chinese labour was the most, satisfactory from oil points of view. .Arrangements hod been completed to obtain the labour required unde- (be control and Bimervisio-i of fbe P,■ rn' ui. ll l, “ Tbo New Ze-bin-I Government,” Air T,eo soid. “hod an-reed to nlnce the nmfits derived from it* Crown estates at the dismiss! of the administration to supnleme.rU fV.o R-imonn Tre.-n-'r-.y ’on" as bid ’■> the extent to enable the Geyr• ■ m , orlin v“vith ropier*- t (( med’cal r„ . B,d""otIon cervices nnd public works to bo Brarried out. I FOR FINE FLAVOURT ROUPS. Just a dash of “Beaver” in a homemade soup gives the richer colour, flavour, and fragrance that characterise a chef-mkde soup. Splendid, too. for gravies and stews. . Beaver Worcestershire cauco is manufactured from an original recipe containing many choice ingredients blended to promote appetite and digestion. Don’t just say “Worcestershire Sauce”—be sure to add “Beaver.” Manufacturers: THE EMPIRE MANUFACTURING COMPANY (LTD.), Wellington.—Advt. British Guiana Legislature has decided to jnyyiM the xuefita tax far another year.