The Copra Question.

I further contend and can prove that the entrance of the Administration into the native copra trade has nothing whatever to do with the causes which brought about the present unrest. Whatever scheme Sir George Richardson might have had in mind in regard to the purchase or handling of native copra by the Administration, I challenge him to say that he ever, at any time, in or out of office, prior to October 1926, discussed with me a scheme whereby a better price might be obtained, or better quality of native copra secured.

It was only during the sittings of the Royal Commission that I learnt of a letter he had written to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, a New Zealand solicitor, Mr. Baxter, suggesting that some efforts be made to secure a higher grade of Samoan native copra. Sir George Richardson has no grounds whatever, moral or otherwise, for the statement he made page 7 to the Mandates Commission: "It was well known, therefore, before the trouble started, that the Government was going to help the Natives with their copra. The business community were all aware of the proposed policy." Not one of the copra merchants would admit to me that Sir George Richardson had discussed the copra business with him in a manner which could justify or warrant the above statement. If the Administrator did discuss the matter with other copra merchants, then it is evident that he did not treat me with the confidence he placed in others.

It would be wrong to assume that no efforts were made to attain a high quality for Samoan native copra before the advent of General Richardson. The control by the Government of the production of native copra was established by law long before the New Zealand occupation. Modifications and alterations to the copra law were made before and after the Great War, but the law was there. When one system would be found inefficient, or proper supervision lacking, the law would be tightened up. If a marked improvement of quality was experienced—and I do not know of any—between 1923 and 1926, it would be because the control had deplorably slackened in 1923.

Before Sir George Richardson came to Samoa I had instructed my London agents to try and establish a special standard for "Samoan" copra, as superior to that of ordinary "South Sea" copra from places where there was no Government control over production. For some time past "Samoan" has commanded a small premium of two shilings and sixpence (2s. 6d.) to five shillings (5s.) per ton over "South Sea." "Hot-air dried" or "plantation" in every case secures a premium of anything up to 10s. per ton (occasionally a little more, but invariably less) over "sun-dried." My Company's Samoan sun-dried copra, without the assistance of Sir George Richardson's scheme, has been found good enough to pass as "plantation" in the European markets on more than one occasion. The purpose of the Government was evidently to try and mislead the Samoans and others to the belief that almost double the price would be received by a further improvement of the quality.