A.—4.

Exports. Copra, Cacao, and Rubber are dealt with in the report on Agriculture. Bananas.—This scheme commenced in May, 1928, when the New Zealand Government motorvessel " Maui Pomare " was brought into the run between Samoa and New Zealand ports. To the end of 1933 a total of 406,263 cases, valued at £166,155, was exported. Growers dispose of their fruit for a fixed price to the Administration, which then ships and undertakes full responsibility for its disposal in New Zealand, the growers having no further pecuniary interest in the particular shipment. As a result of private shipments from Samoa by other vessels having an unsettling effect on the market, an export tax of 2s. 6d. per case was imposed to protect the young industry. This duty applied to all fruit shipped and was paid by the shippers, whether Government or private, a refund of 2s. 3d. being allowed on all fruit shipped by the Administration, the remaining 3d. being retained to cover cost of administration. The net effect is to give a protection of 2s. 3d. a case to shipments made by the Administration. The good reputation established by Samoan bananas in the New Zealand market is reflected in the increase of over 15,000 cases exported in 1933 as compared with the previous year. Further details relative to trade are given in " Trade, Commerce, and Shipping of the Territory of Western Samoa for the Calendar Year, 1933," and in the graphs appended to this report.

Shipping. Overseas Merchant Shipping entering Port of Apia.

Also (1933-34) : 4 British, 2 American, 1 French, and 1 German warships ; 1 British, 1 French, and 1 German yacht. No overseas sailing-vessels. The regular monthly steamer service maintained by the Union Steamship Co., Ltd., for many years past has now been postponed indefinitely, leaving only two regular connections monthly with New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Pago Pago. X. JUDICIAL ORGANIZATION. The Samoa Act, 1921, prescribes the judiciary for the Territory. Almost all judicial functions are performed by the Chief Judge, the one other Judge (who returned to New Zealand in March, 1934), exercising jurisdiction principally when the Chief Jiidge is absent from Apia. During a period of about eight weeks, when both Judges were otherwise engaged, one of the two Commissioners of the High Court resident in Apia disposed of all minor cases. The Land and Titles Commission is a special branch of the High Court constituted under the authority of the Samoa Native Land and Titles Commission Order, 1924. It is the only Court having jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate upon claims or disputes between Samoans relating to Native land, Samoan names or titles, or succession to any property or rights in accordance with Samoan custom. During the year the Commission was occupied for sixteen sitting-days and heard six cases involving over two hundred Natives. In its civil jurisdiction the High Court recorded judgments in 180 cases ; 34 cases were either struck out or withdrawn. The total sums sued for amounted to £4,781. Four divorces were granted and one petition refused. Particulars of criminal cases are given in the tables hereunder, which show a substantial decrease in the number of cases reported.

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Financial Year ended 31st March, 1933. 31st March, 1934. British. Other. Total. British. Other. Total. Number of vessels .. .. .. 85 36 121 75 42 117 Tonnage, vessels .. .. .. 61,603 30,028 91,631 69,361 34,977 104,338 Tons cargo, inwards .. .. .. 9,312 1,920 11,232 6,864 1,708 8,572 Tons cargo, outwards .. .. .. 11,433 9,496 20,929 12,506 6,893 19,399