A.—4.

CHINESE DEPARTMENT. During the year 112 Chinese labourers were repatriated to China, and eleven died in Samoa from natural causes. New arrivals totalled 180. The fact that twenty of these were men who had previously served in Samoa indicates that the labourers appreciate the terms of engagement laid down by the Administration. During the year £1,500, representing savings of wages by labourers, was remitted to China : this includes £500 taken by the labourers being repatriated. It is suggested in some quarters that with the re-establishment of the rubber industry there are hardly sufficient Chinese labourers in Samoa at the present time to meet requirements ; but this view is not supported by the Department. It is true that there have been occasions when a few more men could have been fitted in to advantage during the cacao harvest season, but these men would have been out of employment for a considerable period immediately the harvest was over. The success of labour administration under Samoan conditions depends on the ability to keep every labourer employed, whereas with a surplus of Chinese labour there would be no incentive for the employer to offer work to the Samoans. The policy of having only a bare sufficiency of Chinese labour in Samoa will be adhered to. The number of labourers required to report to the Chinese Commissioner continues to show the success of the free-labour conditions, as the following figures will indicate : —

The number of Chinese labourers in Western Samoa at the 31st March, 1927, was 946, as compared with 888 at the 31st March, 1926, and 1,328 at the 31st March, 1923. POLICE AND PRISONS DEPARTMENT. The criminal statistics published below deal with all offences reported during the year ended 31st December last. The figures show a slight increase as compared with the previous year. The percentage of arrests effected or summonses issued out of the total number of offences reported was 96-95 as against 96-24 for 1925. Police. At the close of the year the strength of the Police Force was thirty-one—four Europeans, including two locally born —as against thirty-two at the close of the previous year. The locally-born European officers, although without previous police experience, continue to give satisfaction, their knowledge of the Samoan language being of great value. Prisons. The prison staff consists of a gaoler (a locally born European), eight Samoan warders, and two Samoan wardresses. During the year the old prison in Apia was closed and the prison efs transferred to a prison training-farm situated at Tuvao, about seventeen miles west of Apia. This farm comprises about 560 acres at an elevation of 400 ft. above sea-level. At the farm it is intended to teach the prisoners proper methods of industry and agriculture, so that when they return to their villages after completing their sentences they may prove more useful members of the community. The total number of prisoners received during the year was 287, and the number discharged 271, leaving a total of 46 remaining in gaol at the 31st March. The conduct of prisoners during the year was good. Offences against prison standing orders have occurred, but none of them were serious. During the year four prisoners had the unexpired portions of their sentences remitted, whilst ten prisoners were released on probation. Clergymen of various denominations visit the prison, and Church service is held each Sunday

4—A. 4,

25

I Subsequent to Introduction of Free-labour Year ended Conditions. 31st March, 1923, Reason. prior to Introduction of Free-labour Year ending I Year ending j Year ending i Year ending Conditions. 31st March, ! 31st March, I 31st March, ! 31st March, 1924. j 1925. I 1926. 1927. Medical examination .. 569 56 30 42 64 Complaint by employer .. 1,0.37 578 122 i 1.82 115 Complaint by labourer .. 276 201 ; 73 ! 146 23 Left work without permis- 470 189 J 42 31 50 sion or notice