Local Natters.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 23, Issue 31, 3 August 1923, Page 7

Local Natters.

(To the Editor Samoa Times.) gir,-—We have heard a lot of late about booming bur pleasure resorts, and suggestions were offered for the purpose of attracting tourists. Now to my mind the ordinary places of interest do not by any means exhaust,the attractions of Samoa. When we read European papers we fiud many wealthy people are going to Russia, to see howthings go under the Soviet Government Control, and conditions in Russia do not permit of toavellmg-fn- comfort. Now I think that this is Where

Samoa should come in and make an effort, to bring to these tourists' notice, that they can see the same thing in Samoa without any discomforts, particulary during travelling, as tfiete are places on our main Toad where one can travel sometimes nearly two miles without doing much damage to the conveyance. Now in Apia alone we can show them the Government Hotel, Government Laundry, Ice Works, Butchery, Hospitaland a few miles away a Government Rest House. Then in the country districts we can show them Government plantations; all this in addi- . tion to the ordinary necessities of civilised countries, court, gaols, etc. We could point out we nearly jiave a Government store,"and runiour has it, that our local paper is partly owned' by government or government officials. It is needless to say how happy everybody is under these conditions; nobody growls, no unemployment, because if you are no good in one department, there are many others you can try. A suggestion has been offered that a new department called the Settlers and Tourist Department, where people can go and get data about the places of interest, and learn all about the prosperity of the Government plantations, perhaps a small booklet, giving the paying plantations, aud those which are losing and the reason why they are losing (the low price of cocoa, of course) # and also all information required by prospective settlers ~* (must mention the < labour ■■■■ conditions). Why not get a retired Parliamentarian (most of them can talk well)j or perhaps we have a. suitable inan at_ present in Samoa to boom these points of interest and let the world know that contrary to other reports, Government control .is a success. Let our motto be, onward, and each individual do his best to c usual conditions and attractiqns existing hsre, so "that we will turn ; *be,<,tjde of tourist traffic and perbap%biirap& wealthy assist the, scheme wharf, and yatj||^ : y ft; W* I^9o

decided to raise a loan in New * ork to buy out the present jnotor bus service, and have a Government service which will run more frequently (when the roads permit). I have been given to understand no plantations are now losing.— I am, etc., PROGRESSIVE PLANTER

[We have printed this letter, excising nothing, as an indication of the average quality of certain letters which have been "pruned" by us in the past on account of half-truths and non-truths which permeated them. —Editor Samoa Times.]