A—4

Industry The desiccated-coconut and dried-banana industries have been developed wholly by the Reparation Estates, the first in 1942 and the second in 1946, and the factories employ about 350 Samoans. One European planter has also entered the dried-banana industry. The whole output is sold to New Zealand. Samoans around Apia sell various types of Native handicrafts, but no overseas outlets have been organized. Particulars as to the amount of outside private capital invested in the Territory are not available. Through the New Zealand Reparation Estates, the New Zealand Government has a considerable investment in Western Samoa. Transport and Communications Postal and Radio The Postal and Radio Department is responsible for communications. While the postal services have returned a profit, the radio is not wholly self-supporting. Postal and radio services are maintained in conformity with the standards of the Post and Telegraph Department of New Zealand, the technical officers required being seconded from that Department. Executive and financial responsibility, however, rests with the Administration. Eleven sub-post-offices under the control of the Postmaster, Apia, and six radio out-stations under the control of the Superintendent, Apia Radio, serve the islands of Upolu and Savai'i, the out-stations being staffed by trained Samoan operators. A telephone service with 225 connections serves Apia and its environs. There is no newspaper published in the Territory, and a cyclostyled daily sheet issued by the Secretariat gives the public up-to-date news. The Apia Radio Station has assisted with and at times carried on aeradio and weather-reporting services, but owing to overloading of the capacity of the station it has been arranged that the two services will be entirely separated. Arrangements are being made for the installation of ship-to-shore telephone equipment. Licences issued during the year in respect of privately owned radio receivers totalled 135.

Following is a table of transactions during the past three years :

Broadcasting During the year, the establishment of a broadcasting service for the Territory was undertaken as a means of disseminating among the Samoan people reliable information on health, educational, and political matters, and on 31st January the station known as 2AP and operating on 1420 kcs. was officially opened. The station is operated by two trained New Zealand personnel and four local employees, while the maintenance of village

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J 1945-46. J 1946-47. 1947-48. Value of money-orders issued £3,646 £4,820 £4,626 Value of money-orders paid £7,510 £4,798 £4,046 Post Office Savings-bank withdrawals £95,001 £107,620 £104,827 Post Office Savings-bank deposits £103,748 £97,165 £118,520 Number of depositors as at 31st March 4,382 4,725 5,175 Amount held to their credit £265,534 £260,780 £280,311 Number of Samoan depositors .. 3,311 3,670 4,169 Amount held to their credit £32,096 £29,395 £37,045 Number of radio messages 13.141 15,935 18,240 Net receipts therefrom £3,565 £3,627 £4,424