A.—4A.

5. Hookworms recovered. Several individuals were treated and their worms recovered. The conditions were such that no opinion could be formed as to effects of dosage. One hundred and sixty-three hookworms were recovered, of which 161 were necators and two were ancylostomes. Some of those treated were Chinamen. The intestines of two pigs were washed and their worms recovered. There were no human hookworms among these. These worms have all been forwarded to Dr. S. T. Darling for more careful survey. Part IV.—Discussion and Conclusions. Discussion. The average white man sits in the shade in the South Seas and talks of the lazy Native, and criticizes Government for not compelling (always the same word) the Native to this thing or that which will benefit him (the white man), with never a thought for the Native himself. In the first place, the Native is not lazy when he is interested nor when he wants to hold a job. Where nature is so bountiful and the necessities of life are so easily obtained as in most Pacific islands, Natives do not seek hard work any more than whites would under the same circumstances ; but where conditions are more difficult, as they are in many districts, then the Native has to work as hard as any white man. In Savai'i some villagers have their gardens at a distance of miles, and must carry in their produce on their shoulders. In many parts of Fiji and other islands Natives have to work and will work at hard labour to support their families. Every colony in the Pacific faces the problem of a decreasing Native population in the face of a need for an increasing labour-supply to develop these islands for their products, which have grown to be necessities of the food-supply of the temperate climates. The causes of the decrease of the population are, broadly, decay of custom and introduced diseases— both due to the entering of white civilizations. The easy answer is the importation of Asiatics. This is undesirable for political reasons, and in almost all cases it will finally produce a problem more difficult th n the present one. And they mean the earlier extinction of the Native races. The true answer to this problem, and the far-sighted one, is the care of the health of these peoples and their protection from new epidemics while we are ridding them of the effects of those already introduced and to which they have little immunity, as well as ridding them of two or more diseases which have been prevalent among them for an indefinite period. We must gain their confidence and trust in western medicine and civilization. We must instil new ideas and ideals of daily life to take the place of such old customs as are incompatible with their new life. The result of such an effort will be the large increase of the population, and the final pressure of that population on the means of subsistence will furnish labour for the development of the islands in an increasing amount. The birth-rate among them is so large under normal conditions that with a deathrate lowered by preventive medicine population figures will soon show a large-enough increase to produce plenty of surplus labour for white plantations or necessitate an enlargement of their plantations by the Natives, with increased exports and imports for the country. Samoa is well along on the road to this happy condition with her increasing population of healthy contented Natives. Conclusions. In Samoa we have a long-visioned Administration which is giving every support to a strong Native Department and a modern Department of Public Health, these two working hand-in-hand. Yaws is well under control, and may be eradicated in the near future. Hookworm-control measures are well advanced, and will now be prosecuted with the vigour given to the yaws campaign. Adequate sanitation, proper latrines, and pure water-supply are gradually being installed in all villages. Definite plans are undertaken for child-welfare work in Native villages with the new year. Even thus early, these measures are being reflected in increasing populations of healthy, happy Samoans. A few years and they will mean dividends on the investment for the country, which, after all, must be the criterion of the success of a humanitarian effort if it is to be enduring.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,490 copies, including illustrations), £92 10s.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—1925.

Price Is. 3d.]

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