9

A.—4

The following is a summary of the traffic handled during the year :—

Traffic handled by Apia Radio, 1st April, 1922, to 31st March, 1923.

The amount earned by Apia was £3,372 Is. Bd. Agricultural Department. A survey of the events of the past year as affecting the agricultural interests of Samoa affords ground for not a little satisfaction, inasmuch as distinct progress has been achieved in several directions, while there has been a steady reaction from the depressed market conditions of the previous year. Copra. Quite the most remarkable feature, of the past twelve months has been the extraordinary increase in the copra export, as revealed in the trade statistics supplied by the Customs Department. The advance could hardly have been anticipated in view of the depressed state of the market and the consequent low price received by the producer throughout the first nine months of the year. Although in the early part of the year values were at their lowest, the Department did everything in its power to encourage the increase of output, both the European Inspectors and the Pulefaatoagas (Native Land Inspectors) bringing all possible influence to bear on the Samoans to clear their plantations of fallen nuts and to cut the copra. Nevertheless, much of the crop goes to waste through nuts being left to rot on the ground. In order to further increase the export of copra to any considerable extent it is necessary to (1) increase the number of coconut palms, and (2) ensure that that part of the crop which is now wasted shall be utilized. As regards (1), the Department is closely concerning itself with the encouragement of new cultivations (as far as is consistent with the duty required from the Samoans of keeping their lands clean) with very gratifying results, as will be seen from the figures as to new plantings contained in the accompanying table. As to (2), the Inspectors—Native and European- endeavour to impress on the Samoans the desirability of removing all fallen nuts from their plantations. This is also necessary to ensure clean cultivation, for if the nuts are allowed to remain where they fall they take root and grow,-choking up the neighbouring palms, with the result that the trees affected by this negligence do not bear as they should, or at all.

2—A. 4.

Month, Total Engine-running Time. Monthly Consumpl Crude Oil. >tion Consumption per Hour. 1922. April May June July August September .. October November .. December Hrs. jMins. 44 45 58 30 60 0 54 15 50 45 57 30 72 0 72 0 67 45 Gallons. 228 251 292 259 244 316 345 360 470 Gallons. 5-0 4-3 4-8 4-8 4-7 5-3 4-8 5-0 6-9 1923. 64 30 63 30 63 15 422 436 420 6-5 6-8 6-6 January February March

Month. Forwi Messages. irded. Recei Messages. ived. Words. ] Tram Messages. imits. Words. Words. 1922. April May June July August September October November December 212 244 192 270 304 256 244 250 329 2,103 2,725 1,911 2,908 3,428 2,808 2,642 2,488 3,102 232 255 226 259 278 238 259 263 273 2,286 2,659 2,116 2,601 2,856 2,210 2,721 2,653 2,489 658 724 795 757 794 624 763 735 651 6,503 7,325 8,319 7,136 8,021 5,972 7,140 6,621 6,579 11)2.'3. 2,392 1,808 2,762 235 222 235 2,079 1,747 2,508 643 610 752 5,303 5,465 7,615 January February March 224 176 246 Totals.. 2,94,7 2.9-17 31,077 2,975 28,925 8,606 81,999 _l_