CO885-5 — Page 302

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

178

cash, and there are no returns procurable showing the value of remittances by cash and drafts. This circumstance (which is in some degree borne out by German Consular reports which dwell upon the high rate of exchange the small British trader is compelled to pay the German Commercial Company for drafts) serves to explain the discrepancy between the value of British imports and exports.*

158. The British shipping for the years 1882, 1883, and 1884 was as follows

Tons

1882.

1883.

1884.

3,000

5,000

12,000

159. The state of German trade as given by official returns furnished by the German Consulate at Apia for the year 1885 is shown in the following table :-

Imports Exports -

Total

YEAR 1885.

German Com. Co.

Ruge and Co.

Total.

£ 50,124 43,890

£ 6,200

£

56,324

15,000

58,890

94,01.I

21,214

115,214

179

167. This value is too high, the average value of copra in 1885 in Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji not being more than 97. 10s. Od.

168. In any case, however, it still remains that German trade in Samoa is far greater than British.

169. It is stated by the German Consulate that of their importations only from 22 to 25 per cent. are of German origin. The remainder are of American and British production.

170. Thus in 1883 of a total import by the German Commercial and Plantation Company, amounting in value to $174,773, the origin and value were as under :

German British American

·

64,668 55,206 54,899

-8174,773

171. The residents in Apia, including, until lately, both the British and Americau Consuls, take these last items into consideration when speaking of the trade interests of their respective countries in Samoa.

172. British and American manufacturers have, beyond doubt, a strong indirect interest in Samoa when a German firm at that place purchases annually 10,000%. worth of goods.

173. But it may be conceded that the direct interest in the matter ceases when the German firm has paid for such goods.

174. The following table shows the movements of German shipping in the Port of Apia during the

year 1885.

Description of Vessels,

Reference :-

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

C.O. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

160. These figures include imports for the supply of trading stations in "Samoa and the adjacent Islands," by which is understood all islands south of the Equator.

161. In the same manner the exports give the products of both Samoa and the adjacent islands (excluding Tonga, Fiji, and Jaluit), which in detail are thus arrived

at :-

Copra from Samoa and the adjacent islands

Cotton from Samoa

147,742 71,089

102

817

Foreign-going Employed in Pacific Coasters in Samoa

Tobacco

Fungus

Total export by the German Commercial and

Plantation Co.

By Ruge and Co.†

219,450

75,000

294,000

This at the rate of five dollars to the 1. sterling amounts to 58,8907.

162. It is, however, declared in Samoa by competent authority, and I believe with truth, that at the outside not more than one-third of the copra exported by the German firms is the produce of Samoa, the other portion being conveyed to Apia for trans-ship- ment from widely scattered spots described as adjacent islands."

163. I endeavoured, but not with success, to obtain details from the German firm of their business with the other islands.

164. Deducting $148,794 or 29,758, as the value of two-thirds of the copra shipped at Samoa upon German account, and not being the produce of that country, but merely there in transit, the actual value of German-Samoan exports in 1885 would reach a sum of about 29,1327.

165. This is more than three times the value of British exports, exclusive of the value of cash or drafts, which remains an unknown quantity, sent away for the same year.

166. The value of copra in the German account is given at the rate of two-and-a-half cents per lb., or about 111, 4s. Od. per ton.

Report of the German Consulate, Samoa, 1883.

↑ Copra only.

Number.

Entries.

Tons Register.

18

18

8,827

17

110

4,758

2

59

1,003

37

187

14,586

175. The following vessels also arrived on German account :-

British 4, entries 9, tons 414

American 1, Danish 1,

1.

""

"

296

368

""

"

176. A glance at this tonnage, enormous for so small a place compared with its exports, will indicate the fact that many ships go away empty, or partly so.

177. The Port of Apia, as before said, is the headquarters in the Pacific of German trade, and thus the return furnished of the movements of German shipping at that place is not wholly connected with German-Samoan interests.

178. Some of the smaller vessels often run in and out with little or nothing in them.

The larger occasionally arrive empty; and after lying at their anchors, sometimes

for four or five months, awaiting cargo from other groups in the Pacific, termed

富家

adjacent islands," sail away half or quarter full to pick up more cargo at Tonga, Fiji, or more distant New Britain.

179. These large ships, lying idly at anchor, in Apia harbour are pointed to as evidences of German industry; and the question is asked, "Where are your English ships"?

180. The answer is uot a difficult one. The English ships are, with their cargoes from the "adjacent islands," sailing the seas to Sydney, Auckland, or elsewhere, as the case may be, instead of lying idle in port. Their owners have no need of an entrepôt such as Samoa is to the German Company.

181. The argument, however, as deduced by Germans from shipping returns, is unnecessary. In actual local business and investments there can be no question as to the preponderance of the German merchants.

182. But even admitting this, British and American residents when discussing the question of the predominating influence claimed and sought for practically by Germans, make the following observations :--

(1.) That German trade is waning, while British and American, particularly the

former, is increasing; and

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