A.—4a

" With a tropical rainfall the humidity throughout Samoa is necessarily high. The annual mean relative humidity at Apia for thirty years is 83-3 per cent., and different stations at various altitudes give about the same value. The difference between the wet and dry season is only 2-6 per cent. During the day the humidity is greatest at 3 a.m. and least at 11 a.m. On account of the equalizing effect of the ocean there is very little variation in the temperature from month to month during the year. The mean temperature at Apia is 784° F., and the coldest month, July, is only 2.3° F. less than the hottest month, December. During the day the average temperature-range is 11-3° F., but temperatures as high as 94-3° F., and as low as 61*5° F., have been recorded at Apia." 2. Census or official rate per mile : Leprosy in Western Samoa is not common. For known incidence during the last thirty years see Annual Medical Report for 1923-24. 3. What legal powers exist as regards — (a.) Compulsory segregation ? There are no special leper regulations in Western Samoa, as there is no necessity for such. Leprosy is indicated in the schedule of infectious disease in the Samoa Health Order, 1921, and can therefore be dealt with under section 27 of the Samoa Health Ordinance, 1921, which reads as follows : — " 27. (1.) The Medical Officers of Health or any Medical Officer, or any Inspector of Health, in any case where in the interests of the public health he thinks it expedient so to do, may make an order for the removal of any person suffering from any infectious disease to a hospital or other place where such person may be effectually isolated. " (2.) An order under this clause shall be made in every case where the Medical Officer of Health or any Medical Officer, or the Inspector, is satisfied that the patient cannot without removal be effectually isolated or properly attended. " (3.) An order under this clause may be executed by the Medical Officer of Health or any Medical Officer, or the Inspector, or by any person authorized in that behalf by the Medical Officer of Health or any Medical Officer, or the Inspector, and may be executed by force if necessary." (b.) Prohibition of occupation concerning food, clothing, and domestic service ? Under the New Zealand Sale of Food and Drugs Act, and its regulations, made applicable to Western Samoa by the Samoa Health Order, 1921, persons suffering from infectious diseases are prohibited from handling foodstuffs. But powers regarding prohibition of occupations are unnecessary, as all lepers are segregated and transported to the leper asylum on the Island of Makogai, Fiji (c.) Are there legal povjers to repatriate leper immigrants and those developing it within a given period after arrival ? Yes, in the case of Asiatics. The Chinese contract labourers introduced into Samoa for work on the plantations can be repatriated on expiry of contract or on determination of contract. These are for all practical purposes the only people for whom legal powers of repatriation are required ; other cases can be repatriated for various offences, but leprosy is not included in the powers of repatriation. (id.) How far are such powers exercised ? They are not exercised in the case of lepers ; such lepers are dealt with in the same manner as those found amongst the indigenous population. 4 to 11. [Note : These questions deal with institutions and treatment, and are not now applicable in the case of Western Samoa.] Prior to 1922, lepers in Western Samoa were isolated, at a leper-station on an outlying island off the east coast of Upolu. The small number of lepers and the lack of facilities for communication made it impossible for adequate medical attention to be given. Arrangements with the Government of Fiji for concentrating our lepers at the leper asylum on the Island of Makogai, Fiji, were completed in 1922, and the lepers were transferred to Makogai in July and August of that year. In future, lepers will be transferred to Makogai once a year. Whilst awaiting transfer they are isolated and treated at the Apia Hospital. From a humanitarian point of view there can be no question of the success of our present policy, and financially the burden is no greater than it was up to the time of transfer. 12. in addition to improving treatment, in what way could the Association best help you? We desire to keep informed of the Association's activities. 13. Have you any suggestions to make regarding the proposed lines of work of the Association? No. 14. Please sup-ply any additional information of interest regarding the prevalence and modes of spread of leprosy. A short article, giving history of leprosy in Western Samoa, in so far as it has been possible to obtain information, was published in the Annual Medical Report for the year 1923-24. 15. Do the indigenous population employ any special remedy against leprosy, and, if so, can you obtain some for inspection ? Not so far as is known. Leprosy is not a disease of long standing in Western Samoa. 16. Do you see the Tropical Diseases Bulletin, or would you like to have abstracts of leprosy papers ? The Bulletin is obtained for our medical library.

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