Tattersall , Alfred James , 1866-1951 . Copra drying , Samoa . London Missionary Society – Photographs of the South Pacific . Ref : 1 / 2-092848-F . Alexander Turnbull Library , Wellington
Drying copra in the sun , as is shown here , was the low-cost , low-tech option and despite the German innovation , sun-dried product still formed the bulk of Samoa ’ s exports , which came from village copra sold by Samoans to the trading companies such as the DH & PG , Ruge & Hedemann , H . J . Moors , P . C . Fabricius and August Nelson .
The disadvantage of sun drying was that it produced copra of inconsistent quality . If there was little or no sun , the copra could ferment and be downgraded . Inadequately dried copra also increased its hazardous status as a combustible shipping cargo prone to selfheating and burning spontaneously . Excessive temperatures had to be avoided . Good ventilation was also needed in the long voyages to reduce carbon dioxide build-up and the respiratory danger to crew members entering cargo holds . Hot air dried copra not only ensured consistent high quality but was lower in moisture and safer to transport .
With the purchasing and planting of large tracts of land , the Germans brought scale and hands-on control to copra production , thereby allowing the establishment of a dedicated , export-oriented industry with a predictable baseload . Export volumes and trading profit could be forecast , within the bounds of a crop that was dependent on the vagaries of nature and a fluctuating international price . Godeffroys / DH & PG purchased copra from growers , both settler and Samoan alike , but the flow from the latter could fluctuate significantly for a number of reasons , such as dissatisfaction with low prices and civil disorder associated with leadership warfare . The Germans started their own plantations to ensure a predictable flow of product and an industry that was worth investing in .
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