THE BEST COCOA

Southland Times, Issue 22013, 12 May 1933, Page 8

THE BEST COCOA

GROWN IN SAMOA. LORD BLEDISLOE’S VISIT. .(Per United Press Association —Special Representative.) Apia (Samoa), April 21. One of the pleasant excursions undertaken by the Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe during their Samoan tour was a visit to the cocoa plantation and factory at Tuanaimato, situated a few miles from Apia. Their Excellencies were the guests of the members of the Planters’ Association at the homestead, and were hospitably entertained at morning tea.

His Excellency, replying to the welcome extended by Mr Gotz, on behalf of the Planters’ Association, said that he had greatly desired to meet the planters on an informal and friendly footing. He hoped they would be able to give him some information with regard to their activities, and that it would be accompanied by some element of what was often called optimism. Personally, he did not greatly like the words “optimism” and “pessimism.” They wanted something which expressed a confident hope, and he preferred “actualism,” based on the knowledge, experience, courage, and confidence which was characteristic of their race. Such an outlook might be most useful, and indeed most important, in this country under present conditions. The fear he felt in connection with many primary producers in different parts of the Empire was that, if there was a long continued glut of second-grade products, the demand for these products would be enormously affected. Where there was a first-grade product they would share his confidence that when the purchasing power of the world became greater they would obtain good value for their product by reason of its exceptionally high quality. He was assured that there was no better cocoa in the world than that coming lately from Samoa, and the planters must inevitably obtain the reward which awaited such a product. While the present economic position prevailed they were bound to do all they could to reduce their working costs, and he advocated, as one means of accomplishing this end, the application of scientific research to primary production. He was conscious that cocoa was one of the most hopeful as well as one of the greatest sources of economic wealth in Samoa. The planters would therefore carry out a patriotic and national duty by winning from the soil of this land the largest possible amount of economic wealth, with a reasonable profit to themselves. Their Excellencies were escorted over the factory, and the processes of extracting and drying cocoa beans were fully demonstrated.