A—4
Business people in the Territory are in the main part-Europeans descended from parents of various nationalities and have the same rights and liabilities in the conduct of their businesses as those of nationals of the New Zealand Government. The two largest trading establishments in the Territory are branches of firms registered in Australia and in Fiji. The type of business carried out covers every aspect of life in the Territory, including banking, trading, transportation, and general merchandising. There are no non-indigenous groups enjoying a special position in the economy of I;he Territory. The policy of the New Zealand Government is to further the economic development of all sections of the population. There is only one indigenous group in the Territory—the Samoans —and existing legislation already protects their economic interests. Steps have been taken for the functions of non-indigenous plantation workers to be taken over gradually by the Samoans. This refers specificially to Chinese coolies, whose importation ceased after 1934. No economic concessions or privileges have been granted by the New Zealand Government either to Samoans or other residents of the Territory or to any outside organization. There is no difference in legal status between undertakings operated by the New Zealand Government and its nationals and those operated by other nationals.
The following list, compiled from salary-tax returns for the year ended 31st March, 1947, shows the number, occupation, and status of persons earning more than £2OO at that time
The increasing financial returns from the staple products—copra and cocoa — •during the last few years have resulted in an artificially high standard of living for the Samoan people, who display a tendency to neglect their own food plantations and to purchase European foodstuffs to a greater extent than formerly. A fall in overseas prices would inflict on them a hardship more apparent than real, as their own food lesourees are sufficient for their maintenance. Public Finance, Money, and Banking Receipts of public revenue from the Territory reached the record total of £548,682. Payments totalled £359,285, leaving a surplus of receipts over payments of £189,397. The total accumulated cash surplus of the Territory now amounts to £607,155 ; of this sum, £544,375 is invested in New Zealand Government inscribed stock.
19
Occupation. Europeans. Local Born Europeans. Samoans. Civil servants Clerks Traders (village stations) Salesmen and women Ministers and missionaries Company managers Motor mechanics Carpenters... Company directors Others 80 21 3 8 6 2 16 40 54 37 9 1 3 9 3 7 16 18 1 35 2 1 2 1 136 179 60