A.—4b

Also you state that " prior to 1900 the people of Samoa exercised the right, both in the Samoan Government and in the Municipality of Apia, to control the revenues : that right was granted to the people by the three protecting Powers." Apart from the absurdity of comparing the conditions existing in Samoa during the period referred to, with those of to-day, no one knows better than one of the compilers of the committee's report on finance, that this right was not only not exercised, but was a continuous source of trouble and friction between the representatives of the three Powers and the European citizens of Apia, owing to the latter wishing to control all funds, whether raised in the municipality or otherwise. What rights the citizens had during the German regime are well expressed by Messrs. Nelson, Westbrook, and others in their petition to the High Parliament of Berlin, a copy of which is in the possession of the New Zealand Government. The final clause in the committee's report, suggesting that because the New Zealand Government have been generous and unselfish enough to declare that they do not wish to benefit by the profits earned from the New Zealand Reparation Estates, but desire that they be used to the extent required in the interests of the Mandated Territory, therefore your committee can demand this, that, and the other information, is not tenable. If such a suggestion were made by a citizens' committee to a private individual who had intimated his intention of devoting the profits of his business to the welfare of the community, I am afraid he would be sorely tempted to change his mind and utilize his money where it would be appreciated without question. Finance (Samoan Reports). (1) The suggestion as to the printing of the Financial Statement in the Samoan language will be referred to His Excellency the Administrator. I would point out this course is not followed in New Zealand, nor in any of its Pacific territories, nor in Fiji. (2) The Legislative Council does at present discuss and approve of the estimates of revenue and expenditure. (3) It would be quite contrary to the Constitution of the Legislative Council and entirely against the public interest to provide for unanimous decisions on the subject of loans as distinct from all others. (4) and (5). These proposals no doubt arise from similar representations made in the report of the European committee, which have been dealt with already. (6) and (7). It has always been the policy of the Administration to employ locally-born people in every position for which they are qualified. The number of locally-born people employed in the Public Service, and the range of their employment, have steadily increased during recent years, and the availability of further positions is entirely in the hands of the people themselves. Medical. The reports submitted by your committees on this subject are similar, and will be dealt with together. (1) Your demand that the Chief Medical Officer should be an expert surgeon and general practitioner is difficult to understand, for, apart from the fact that the present Chief Medical Officer, a responsible official of the New Zealand Department of Public Health, has the most excellent qualifications, he would not be able to carry out the administrative duties attaching to his position if he were occupied with clinical practice. His duties are clearly brought out in the Samoa Health Order, in which the duties of the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Officer of Health are detailed. The present Chief Medical Officer carries out the duties of both those positions. It does appear that the authors of your report have given very little attention to the administrative side involved in the successful carrying-out of medical work throughout the Territory, and that they can have no knowledge whatever of the amount of work involved. (2) Your complaints as to the need for an expert surgeon in the Territory do not disclose a knowledge as to the amount of surgical work required ; nevertheless, since July of last year there has been attached to the Apia Hospital staff a Medical Officer of thirty-four years' experience in his profession, whose special surgical qualification is the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh—the highest surgical degree granted by any Scottish University—and whose excellent services to the Territory are unreservedly acknowledged in the first issue of the newspaper promoted by your movement and edited by one of your members. Which statement do your committee now stand by ? (3) The request for the permission of private practice in the Territory apparently arises also from a miscomprehension of the true state of affairs. I can assure you that no such permission is needed ; the Administration have no objection whatever to the setting-up of practice in Samoa by any properly qualified practitioner. (4) Native Medical Levy. —This tax, the imposition of which provides free medical attention for all Native Samoans, was first proposed to the Fono as an improvement upon the system of payment for medical services and medicines received then existing, and to ensure that all Samoans requiring medical treatment would freely apply for it without hesitation on the ground of inability to meet the expense. It was commenced as a trial only, to be reviewed by the Fono, and when the time came for review only four of the thirty-three districts submitted any point for consideration. Their request was for reduction rather than abolition of the tax, with its attendant benefits, and a reduction was made. It is therefore wholly incorrect to say that this medical levy, which is resulting in such great benefit to the Samoan race, was imposed on the people against their wish. (5) Lack of Interest in Natives. —This charge is made without any foundation whatever. General complaints against the Medical Officers of the Territory have been an outstanding feature of all

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