41

A.—4

XI. MORAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL WELFARE. What are, generally speaking, the measures adopted to ensure the moral, social, and material welfare of the Natives ? (Measures to maintain the interests, rights, and customs of the Natives, their participation in public service, Native tribunals, &c.) The moral welfare of the Natives has been the care of the missions for nearly one hundred years, and to the missions is due the fact that the whole of the Native people are Christianized and possess elementary education in the vernacular. The missions are the London Mission Society, the Methodist Church if Australasia, the Roman Catholic Mission, the Latter-day Saints' Mission, and the Seventhday Adventists. Every endeavour is made by the Administration to assist and co-operate with the missions, and it is in complete harmony with them. Since New Zealand, assumed the mandate for the Territory it has instituted equal incidence of the criminal law for Europeans and Natives. The social system of the Natives is based upon the family, at the head of which is a Matai, who is appointed to use the family name or title and to rule over the family. Families arc gathered, together in villages, and the village is presided over by a Pulenu'u, or Town Ruler, who is chosen by the Matais and appointed by the Government. Every endeavour is made to maintain the authority of the Pulenu'u and Matai, and to preserve beneficial customs whilst eliminating undesirable ones. The material welfare of the Natives, as well as their moral and social welfare, receives the most sympathetic- consideration of the Administration —indeed, the progress and advancement of the indigenous inhabitants are always the first consideration. The land of the Natives is held under their customs and usages, and is preserved to them by the prohibition of alienation (see Samoa Act, 1921, section 278 to 283). The energies of the Natives are directed to the production of copra from their coconut-palms, and to the production of foodstuffs from their plantations. They produce the greater part of the copra exported. The local price of the copra is regulated by the competition of buyers, and their sales of copra produce to the Natives a sufficiency of money for their needs. They are protected from exploitation in the purchase price of goods required by them, by the provisions of the Samoa Board of Trade Order, 1921. Tho administration of the Government of tho Natives is entrusted largely to themselves through their own officials. The Fono of Faipules, or Native Parliament, has been given statutory recognition by the Samoa Amendment Act, 1923, and all matters affecting the welfare of the Natives are discussed by the Administration with the Faipules at their Fono, which assembles twice yearly. The following table will indicate the extent to which the indigenous inhabitants participate in the public service ; — Summary oi? Staff, showing Extent to which Native Samoans participate in Public Service. Europeans. Half-castes. Native Samoans. Departmental officials .. .. .. .'. ..83 14 149 Samoa Crown Estates .. .. .. .. ..8 3 2 Samoa Public Trust Office; .. .. .. .. 2 Part-time Native officials .. .. .. .... .. 318 Temporary officers .. . . . . .. .. 7 1 4 100 18 473 Note.—ln addition to the above, some thirty-eight Samoans and half-castes are engaged as casual employees of the Harbour, Lands and Survey, and Public Works Departments, and as such receive instruction in trades or other useful occupations. XII. PUBLIC FINANCES. The, general schedule of receipts from, and expenditure on, the Territory, Budget system, indication of the nature and assessment of taxes. (a.) See particulars on pages 31 to 34 for receipt from and expenditure on the Territory. (b.) Bwiget System. —Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the ensuing year, are issued on or prior to the first day of the financial year. Under the Samoa Act (section 32) the Administrator, subject to the control of the Minister of External Affairs, New Zealand, directs expenditure from the Samoan Treasury. " (c.) Nature and Assessment of Taxes: — Customs : See Samoa Customs Consolidation Order, 1923. Building-tax, salary-tax, store-tax, and business licenses : See Taxation Licensing and Revenue Ordinance, 1921. ' . Personal tax: See-Taxation Licensing and Revenue Ordinance, 1921. Personal tax is payable as follows : Every male Samoan seventeen years of age and over — (a) If a Matai, £1 4s. per annum ;, (b) if a Taulealea, £1 per annum. Every male person over eighteen years of age not being a Samoan,, £1 ss. per annum. Medical subscription : Every male Samoan seventeen years of age and over pays a medical subscription of £1 per annum, in exchange for which universal free medical treatment, medicines, and attention are given to all Samoans. The levying of this subscription was asked for by the Samoans themselves. All persons other than Samoans have to pay for whatever medical treatment and attention they receive.

6—A. 4.