CACAO BEANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19199, 16 June 1924, Page 8

CACAO BEANS.

GRADING FOE. EXPOET. FROM MANDATED SAMOAN TERRITORY. Steps have been taken by the Administration iij Samoa in the direction that only cacao beans of good quality are shipped from the mandated territory. In this connection, the following letter was received by tire council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce from the Department of External Affairs: ’• With the object of controlling tho exportation of cacao, the Administration of Samoa has recently brought into force an Ordinance entitled ‘The Cacao Beans Export Ordinance, 1923,' under the provisions of which no cacao is permitted to bo exported from Samoa until it has been examined by a committee appointed for that purpose. If, upon examination, the cacao is found to conform to the standard of quality set by the committee, the bill of lading is stamped ‘Standard Quality Cacao’; if it does not reach this standard, but is still of a good quality, it is allowed to be shipped on its merits and no marks of any kino are placed on the bill of lading. If found to be of inferior quality but still of marketable quality, the bill of lading is marked ‘ Inferior.’ Cacao produced by Samoans may, at the discretion of the committee, bo .stamped as ‘Native.’ Cacao of such poor quality that in the interests of cacao producers in Western Samoa it ought not to be shipped, is condemned and prohibited from shipment. “As a result of these measures it is hoped that Samoan cacao will eventually regain its former reputation in tho world’s market. Tho climate and soil of the Territory has been found to be specially suitable for the growth of this crop, am! when properly cured the beans have a flavour and appearance equal to tho best produced elsewhere. Samoan cacao is found to be indispensable for blending purposes, and is extensively used in the manufacture of the highest classes of confectionery. “Unfortunately, the quantity at present produced is comparatively small, bat every encouragement is being given to planters, and it is anticipated that the output will bo considerably increased during the coming year, when the exports of this produce will probably amount to over 800 tons.”