SAMOAN POPULATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4947, 5 March 1926, Page 4

SAMOAN POPULATION.

NEARING THE 40,000 MARK. REPAIRING EPIDEMIC WASTAGE. The population of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa is very definitely on the increase. Following are the census figures of 1921 and

Add to the above 376 other, islanders resident in Samoa when the 1926 census was taken, a<nd the aggregate —seeing that the census is not quite complete—'may be regarded as. being well, on towards 40,000'. According to figures quoted in Dr. S. M. Lamberts’ "Medical Survey,” in 1918 the native population was estimated at 38,093, but the great influenza epidemic of 1918 took its toll; with the result that the 1921 census showed 32,601. But the Samoan ppoulation returned for 1926 is only 1499 below the pre-influenza native population quoted above. This shows rapid recovery under the Mandatory rule, for which New Zealand may take full credit. The natural increase in the last five years is stated, to be the greatest on record *for any quinquennial period.

In reaching approximately the figure of 40,000, the population of Samoa is beginning to challenge some of. the earlier figures quoted in the "Medical Survey.” The biggest of these is 46,000; but this estimate, made in 1838, may have been rather .too high. In 1843 the population was variously esitmated at 40,000 and 45,000. Epidemics intervened, and in . 1854 the London Missionary Society gave the population at 29,237. An official estimate in 1886 was 29,237. Under New Zealand rule, the Samoans have a prospect not only of getting over the 40,000 mark, but of keeping well above it.

With regard to the 2473 Europeans, it may be explained that not more than one-third would be full whites. Samoans of mixed blood appear to avail thempelves. in a greater degree than Maoris or partial Ma,oris; do, of the legal machinery for Europeanisation. Possibly sufficient reason for this greater tendency towards Europeanisation could be found in the social and legal conditions of Samoa, which are not the same as the conditions in whjch the Maori is, placed. For one thing, a Maori who hag' not possessed himself of the European status (and there are some eminent and schola.rly Maoris who do not elect to do so) is yet-'able through the| Maori Land Court, to acquire individual title. Tn Samoa, however, the land-holdings of non-Enropeanised Samoans are communal. Legal steps towards' individualisation of native Samoan are yet in their infa.ncy. So the Samoan may still have a property motive in registering as a European.

192®:— 1921 1926 Inc. Samoans .£2,601 36,'594 3993 Europeans 2,074 2,473 399 Total 34,675 39,067 4,392