A.—4

The arrivals from and departures for overseas tend to balance over a period of years. There is considerable traific between Western Samoa and American Samoa, and to a lesser extent between Western Samoa and Fiji and Tonga, but there is no definite immigration or emigration on the part of the Samoans. Births. The births of 1,965 living children were registered during 1926, giving a birth-rate per thousand of midyear population of 52-62. For the years 1925 and 1924 the figures were 2,033 and 1,901, and the birth-rates 56-30 and 55-38 respectively. Deaths. The number of deaths registered during the year was 723, giving a death-rate per thousand of midyear population of 19-36.- For 1925 and 1924 the deaths numbered 857 and 766, and the deathrates were 23-75 and 22-29 respectively. The death-rate for 1926 was the lowest on record, and the reduction is chiefly, if not solely, due to saving of child-life. This matter is more fully dealt with under " Child Welfare " in the special Medical Report. Infant Mortality. Prior to 1923 the system of registration of births and deaths did not permit of ascertaining the infant-mortality rate, but from the death-rates recorded it must have been high. In 1923 the rate was approximately 200, and in 1924 it fell to 155. Child-welfare work commenced in 1925, and during the first six months of that year the infant-mortality rate showed a marked improvement. During the second six months whooping-cough caused a rise in the number of deaths, making the rate for the year 186 per thousand births. For the year under review the rate fell to 106. Thus two years' work on child welfare, coupled with four years' organized medical work in the out-districts, has already resulted in a marked improvement in the health of infants. The results are full of promise for the future. The improvement is shown not only in the first year of life, but also in the succeeding years. In 1924, of a total number of deaths of 766, 51-4 per cent, were of children under the age of two years, and 59-3 per cent, under the age of five years. In 1925 the deaths numbered 857, of which 55-8 per cent, were of children under two years and 62-8 per cent, under five years. In 1926, of a. total number of deaths of 723, the percentage under two years of age dropped to 41-64, and under five years to 50-63. In connection with the percentages given above, it is necessary to note that the accurate returns which we have been able to obtain during the past four years show that 16 per cent, of the total population of the Territory is under the age of four years.

Hospital and Dispensary Statistics for the Year ended 31st March, 1927.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. The education policy of the Administration—viz., not to aim at educating the Samoans to become Europeans in their outlook, but to make them better Samoans—has been kept in mind by all concerned and made the objective in all their work. It Las been the function of the Administration to co-ordinate its education policy with its many other activities for developing the people and the country, in order to promote the general well-being of the community.

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Hospitals. Totals, Dispensaries. including of In-patients. DisI pensaries d - iipj and Stations, and Number -• Apia. jTuasivi. " Safotu. Travel- Date of Opening if of Attend- a g <g ' ling opened this Year ances. 8 s 53 Unite. a jC w co o (а) In hospital, 1/4/26 59 1 3 4 67 Fagaloa (Aug., 1926) 1,622 (a) 7 47 13 Fusi (Safata) .. 2,382 (b) 161 1,130 379 (б) Admitted during 1,185 126 184 177 1,670 Gagaemalae .. 6,208 (c) 153 1,055 345 year Lufilufi .. .. 5,203 (d) 5 71 6 (c) Discharged during 1,106 106 170 171 1,553 Malua .. .. 8,967 (e) 10 51 41 year Mulifanua.. .. 1,961 (d) Died .. .. 54 16 5 7 82 Satalo (July, 1926) 4,041 (e) Remaining, 31/3/27 82 5 12 3 102 Sataua (Aug., 1926) 2,062 Satupaitea . . 5,357 Vaiala .. .. 3,427 Out-patient attend- 24,116 6,599 7,382 9,997 96,452 Lefaga (Nov., 1926) 950 ances, including Fasitootai (Dec., 1926) 2,222 dressings Salega (Nov., 1926).. 2,533 (/) Treatments for 36 1,118 334 50 2,580 Fagamalo (Jan., 1927) 1,423 hook-worm Travelling units .. 1,042 ( f) (g) Treatments for yaws 3,063 1,875 j 909 1,193 9,981 2,943 (g) (injections of no varseno billon) Operations-Major .. 104 J g6 m , I Note. —Chinese out-patient attendances (included in out-patient attendances) numbered 178. The above figures do not include the children seen in our child-welfare work ; cases attended to at mission stations where no nurse is stationed ; the numbers visited by 'members of the staff ; nor the thousands who were visited and treated in their own villages during the influenza epidemic of August and September.