Report of Copra Campaign Malaga.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 23, Issue 33, 17 August 1923, Page 7

Report of Copra Campaign Malaga.

Left Apia 4 /7/*> C0 J m ? e I ll s ed i at Matautu, Falelatai, and finished at Aleipata; returned Apia 15/7/23■ Members: H C Tennent, H. P. Ritchie, A. Macfarland (interpreter), Tialino (interpreter for Mr. Ritchie), and carriers. The purpose of the malaga was to explain the efforts of the Board of Trade in establishing a copra production campaign, and to set up Samoa n Committees to further this object. In particular, it was made known. 1. That the Board of Trade were watching their interests in regard to copra prices under a schtnie that had been explained to the faipules. f. That all particulars ofr-pio-duction, andYa diagram illustrating the division of the 1 London price would be published in the "Savali" quarterly. 3, That a district competition was set up, and as tar as Upolu was concerned, it commenced on the rst July. The competition was to make substantial awards for:

(a) Increase iu the production of copra. (b) Improvement iu the quality ot copra. (c) Improvement id the care of plantations. The above three points were to be taken together and one award made to the best district. All particulars of the competition to be published iu the "Savali" quarterly, showing the relatjvt position of districts, thus drawing attention to the district at the bottom of the list. 4. Committees were set up under the instructions of the Director of Agriculture, ;whose duty it was to see that all that copra in their village or district was cut, and who were to deal with the funds resultfrom such copra cutting. (Noted) : The particular attention of the Government is drawq to the importance of these committees that are in effect town or district Boards, aud it is possible that in time they will be of great value in Samoan develop* ment). 5. The malaga advocated the expenditure of money on certain progressive enterprises suitable for the Samoan, it being intended that the carrying out of these enterprises would be a further spur to production. These enterprises were : Better houses, water systems, fautasis, copra driers, cattle and wire. In addition, the use and advantages of the Post Office Saving Bank were explained to the ipnos as a suitable means of saving community funds for the carrying out of community purposes. 6. The malaga considered on the spot the question ot * copra driers, the following driers being considered : Large and small sundriers, hot-air driers owned by merchants, large hot-air driers owned by the village, small hot-air driers owned by the family. In this connection the malaga have important recommendations to make. - :;-•'

-7« A number ot other matters of minor importance were ckalt with. Plantations were occasionally inspected and a general impression obtained of the copra industry in those parts. ! Notes in detail ot each iono have bees taken, bat the following-short summary of Our observations and recommendations is made: x. All the natives and traders consulted were of opinion that there was more copra this year than there had been tor many years before. The traders auticipate a bumper year if the weather with only improve. Most ot the districts' visited were what is known a* "wet" 1 districts ; this year baa been a particularly uulortunate one. R a i n sbowera have ificessaotlysince M diy" season coinmeofled. In consequence

OrdiL" P againSt the C °P ra general ■ .*"' hearU ' a ° d ** IZZ l' }V T* was 'aatthe Ordinance would, wi ie „ fntly understood, dus°! Breat ValUe '° tbe c °P ra ,n 21 had sometimts heard it stated m Apia 'bat an old German •aw requiring Samoans to p'ant young l[ees shoill(1 relnstated I Ins statement is made without any knowledge of the facts, as I was astounded to see the immense areas 01 young cocoamits just coming into bearing or in younger stages. I do,. not think it is any exaggeration to '■" say that one-third ol the plantations are . omposed o! planted since the height of the beetle ravages in 1916 The trees which appeared to be destroye I in 1916 seetn to have recovered, and are now beaiing, and the problem now is, not the planting of ntw areas, but the harvesting ol the immense crops that are available. In one district, Falelatai, the plantations are not large, but ar rangemeuts were made, subject to His Kxcdleucy's approval, where* by further areas would be drawn up 3 The lavages of flying-fox w re noticed f veiywliere, and ob-

set vat ions wue made 01 the flyingfoxes actually Slacking the fruit. Samoansdo not appear to bother about the shooting of flying foxes, and we suggest that some regulations or instructions dtaling with this pest should be drawn up. 4 Copra driers : For the wet districts we have decided to endeavour to 6nd a design for a suitable hot air drier to be used by the native fale The Agricultural Department is to advertise and oflL'r a reward tor the most practicable design, the materials (apart from local material) of which will not cost more than approximately £3O. After experimenting with these driers, it is hoped that a suitable oue will be obtained. A SDecification oi its construction will then be drawn up and Samoans will be encouraged to build these driers at their own expense, under direct Government supervision and inspection, and it will be necessaiy to draw up a few regulations for their control. A hot-air drier for the vi'lage, being a drier that will take more than a ton of copra, was also considered, and principally on the advice of Samoaus idea was abandoned. Sun-driers are not considered suitable for the wet districts The alternative is to ask mer chau.s if they would consider th" erection of hot aft drieis at their trading stations. In the latter case regulations would be introduced providing for the sale of copra in its greet) state in classifL-d districts. We are inclined to fa our the small drier for the Samoan family, but iutend to discuss the matter with merchants heiore a.tning to a final decision. I may add that a small drier is expected to carry about 600 lbs of green copra only. 5 Cattle forSamoan Plantations: We were much impressed with the value to Samoan plantations of cattle. A great deal of weeding would become uuuecessaiy. and at the time being the acquisition of cattle would provide a spur for Samoau production and progress. A cattle scheme had been commenced by the Agricultural Department prior to the epidemic but was abandoned wheu the epidemic occurred. lam strongly ot the opinion that this scheme should be recommenced in a small way, as 1 think that the introduction of cattle for Samoan plantations would Have a considerable bearing on increased production. 6 The district competition evoked immense iuterest. and every detail ot the competitioi was tuoolrJerehaots iu carrying out he mptitktn » very o**""* ° n ut J propoto to deal with this in a WjNKtte »ea»oiandun>'

7- Formal ion ot Committees: ttwiywhere we louad eagerness in commencing these committees. Iu two districts steps had been taken to set up the committees before our arrival, and in Alelpata a committee had already commenced work, and hod cm out certain areas that bad been untouched before. The formation ol these committees is a most important matter, and gives a practical turn to our efforts for increasing coprn production. In two districts the Samoans have toimed distrit committ es, hut in the other villages the committees were being iormod. The Agricultural Department is responsible to see that thrse committees function properly and will riport accordingly. There is no dooht that if these committees are successful tbey will later bave an impottaut bearing on Samoan affairs In conclusion I wish to state that I'O-.h Mr. Ritchie and myself were witli the success ot the nittlaga. N.ver before had the Samoans appeared so anxious to progress aid to help the Government in its pioposals. The district competition and the committee will be the means by which the good work commenc.-d will now be carried on. A great deal of work lies before the Board of Trade and the Agricultural Department iu following up aud seiing that botb the competitiou and committees function prop.-rly. Great credit is due to the work of the Agricultural Inspectors. Indeed, one cannot fail to be impressed with the sympathetic and consistent work of the Agriculuual Department ~ I wish also 10 pay a tribute to the value to the malaga ot Mr. Mac tar la/id, ink'pretcr. Tb.- ideas that were bionght before th* Sa moans were in many cases new to tbem, and it is doubtful whether they wonld have assimilated those ideas without the efforts ot Mr. Macfarlaud. H. C. TENNENT.