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X. LEGISLATION. The following legislation concerning the Territory was passed during the year ended 31st March, 1927 :— In New Zealand— The Samoa Amendment Act, 1926 ; The Samoa Legislative Council (Elective Membership) Amendment Order, 1926 ; The New Zealand Reparations Estates Service Order, 1926 ; The New Zealand Reparations Estates Amendment Order, 1926 (No. 2); The New Zealand Reparations Estates Service Amendment Order, 1926; The New Zealand Reparations Estates Amendment Order, 1926 (No. 3); The Samoa Land Registration Amendment Order, 1927 ; The Samoa Customs Consolidation Amendment Order, 1927. In Samoa— No. 1/1926, the Land for Vaimoso Village Purposes Ordinance, 1926 ; No. 2/1926, the Noxious Weeds Ordinance, 1926 ; No. 1/1927, the Native Market Ordinance, 1927 ; No. 2/1927, the Maintenance of Authority in Native Affairs Ordinance, 1927 ; No. 3/1927, the Melanesian Labourers Ordinance, 1927. Copies of the several Orders and Ordinances have been forwarded to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations and to each member of the Permanent Mandates Commission.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. NATIVE AFFAIRS. The establishment of local Councils in Native districts has shown itself to be a splendid institution in Native development. All Councils are working efficiently. The Fono of Faipule (Native Parliament) held two sessions during the year. Amongst important legislation agreed upon were—(a) Measures for agricultural development, especially regarding the commencement of banana export industry ; (b) plans for perfecting copra for export; (c) tax-collection, grouping medical and other taxes. The assemblies expressed the gratitude of Samoa to the Administration for benefits to their race rendered especially by Medical, Education, Public Works, Wireless, and Agricultural Departments. A party of three members of the Faipule Fono travelled to New Zealand to present to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York greetings from Samoa—a journey fraught with great value from the point of view of broadening the outlook of the Samoan mind. The heavy work in the Native Court under this Department, with the phenomenal number of over one thousand cases for the year, indicates not increased Native crime but increased efficiency of Native officials and the system generally. A change has occurred during the year in the status of the Komisi (Land Commissioners). Much of the work previously performed by these officials is now dealt with by District Councils, and the effect of this is that the Lands and Titles Commission, the chief Court the Native has for the settling of cases .of land rights and title rights, meets very occasionally, and only to decide the very important or difficult cases. No session of the Lands and Titles Commission has been held during the year. The increased activities of the Department during the year are evidence of the importance of the Native Department as the link between the Native population and the various Departments of the Administration, and the fact that all undertakings have been carried out effectively shows that the Department retains the confidence of the Samoan people.

Number of Samoan Officials in the Service as on 31st March, 1927 (Native Department).

As a result of a decision made at the December Fono of Faipule a Native will now pay in direct taxes only £2 if he .is a Matai, or £1 16s. if he is a Taulealea, these being practically the amounts paid by the Natives of American Samoa and of Tonga —in the latter case under a Native Government. As to the earnings of the average Native, a great deal of investigation would be necessary to arrive at a correct figure, and it does not appear necessary to guess at the amount. It might be said, however, that during 1925 the Natives produced 11,000 tons of copra, for which they received on an average not less than £12 per ton, making £132,000 altogether. In addition, salaries and wages to Natives paid by the Administration and New Zealand Reparation Estates Department equalled not

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Rank. | Upolu. Savai'i. Total. Fautua (Native advisers) .. .. .. 2 .. 2 Faipule (members of Fono of Faipules) .. 18 13 31 Pulefaatoaga (Plantation Inspectors) .. . . 9 7 16 Faamasino (District Judges).. .. .. 15 13 28 Pulenu'u (Village Rulers) .. .. .. 93 57 150 Failautusi (clerks) .. .. .. .. 17 13 30 Leoleo (policemen) .. . . . . .. 33 20 53 Totals .. .. .. 187 123 310