SAMOAN TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18898, 26 June 1923, Page 8

SAMOAN TRADE.

SOME INSTRUCTIVE FIGURES. A return has been issned by the Department of Industries and Commerce giving an outline of Samoan trade during the calendar year 1922. The following table shows the value of Samoan external trade from 1910 to 1922; i Total Year Imports. Exports. Trade. 1910 .. .. £173,118 £176,668 £319.806 1911 ~ .. 263,312 219,491 422,806 1912 .. .. 249,720 252,224 501,944 1913 .. .. (Not available.) 1914 .. .. 236.239 220.519 456,758 1915 .. .. 267,091 262,389 529.480 1916 .. .. 180,340 235,415 415,755 1917 .. .. 301,173 320,444 621.617 1918 .. .. 309,396 306,640 616,035 1919 .. .. 291,360 532,500 823,868 1920 .. .. 561.133 386,587 947.740 1921 .. .. 408,892 241,539 650,431 1922 .. .. 282,939 365,610 648,549 It will be noted that while Samoan imports have fallen considerably since 1920, exports showed a considerable recovery in 1922, and the adverse balance of trade of £167,353 in, 1921 has been changed to a favourable balance of £82,671 in 1922. The value of Samoan imports for 1922 included: United Kingdom, £14,202; New /tealand, £82,596; Australia. £104,663; United States of America, £63,345. In comparison with Australia, this dominion enjoys .a relatively small proportion of the trade in the following goods: Tobacco, bags and sacks, boots and shoes, drapery, leather, matches, paper, and stationery, biscuits, Hour, jams, etc.; rice, sugar, and veeetables, a.here are undoubtedly good reasons tor our inability to compete successfully in some of these lines, but a better knowledge of the trade offering may stimulate cur traders towards giving this market closer attention. Our relative success in such lines a<a drugs and chemicals, metal manufactures, bacon and ham, butter, meat, potatoes, and onions, soap, and timber, jmako pleasant reading Samoan exports for 1922 were sent mainly to the following countries:—United Kin<*dom, £86,298; New Zealand, £12,398; United States, £32,568; Holland. £24,678; Denmark, £118,562; Germany, £83,658. Cocoa beans (£44,513) and copra (£319,333) accounted for substantially the whole value of the export trade. The only other item worthy of mention was hides to a value of £539.