PLANTERS IN SAMOA

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1930, Page 13

PLANTERS IN SAMOA

LOW PRICES FOR PRODUCE. TRIBUTES TO ADMINISTRATOR. Visitors who returned, by the Tofua this week to Auckland from Samoa report that while, the planters in the mandated territory' are . experiencing unusually lean timers owing to the fall in values of copra, bocoa and rubber, the subsidence of the political troubles holds encouraging prospects for the future. The Samoans are back in their villages and have settled down to work and tho administration of the country is running as smoothly as ever. Mr. S. J. Collins, who was for four years accountant to the Reparations Estates in Western .Samoa and who has just completed their reorganisation, stated that efforts were being made to prevent the complete collapse of tho rubber market. Dutch planters in the Malay States and the Dutch East Indies intended to export only a portion of their crop in order to prevent prices from falling much lower and steps were being taken in Samoa to reduce production costs. Although' copra was down to the lowest figure yet known, tho Samoans were settling down to work again and it was hoped tho old standard-’bf. production would be restored;' Cbc'da ,>; had ‘fallen heavily in price, but ft considerable

i quantity had been sold to/New Zealand J during the past year. The Reparations i Estates, totalling about 10,,000 acres, ' comprised 7000 acres in coconuts, 1500 acres in cocoa and 800 acres in lubber, while other areas were leased.to private i planters; Considering the state of the • world markets these estates had not > done so badly. ; Mr. D. J. Willis, a well-known sheopi station owner of Greatford, in the , ißangitikci district, stated that things i j looked more hopeful for Samoa now’ that • j tho natives were settling down and look- ■ j ing happier. The Administration appear- : I ed to be getting excellent results. The Administrator, Mr. S. S. Allen, was doling wonderfully w’ell and by a policy of ■ ’firmness and understanding, designed to luphold the white man’s mana, was bringi Hng the people back into tho paths of ■ j peace. The New Zealand administrative ■ ’staff which Mr. Allen had gathered 'round him was exceedingly capable and [efficient and a credit to the Dominion. | Samoa, said Mr. Willis, was .an ideal ground for the tourist in search of interest and pleasure away from the beat- ;' en track. As far as. tropical scenery l was concerned it was superior to HonoI lulu rind only the lack of sumptuous | hotels prevented it being one of the ■' most popular holiday resorts , in the ■ ■Pacific*.„.i ... Mr. J. C. Entrican, who also returned , by the Tbfua, said' that; Samoan rubber j was feeing sold 'below'production cost, i

Whereas it cost 7jd a lb to grew, ft could only fee spjd for 5Jd. The principal hope of. improving matters lay tg. tho efforts now being mad 4 tn rpihKS? the quantity being placed ..th* market. % ’.. '• c *