A.—4.

Imports. The following is a table of the principal countries of origin : —

The main items imported are as follows : Tobacco, drapery, hardware, iron and steel, benzine and kerosene, butter, preserved fish, tinned meats, rice, sugar, provisions, soap, timber, motor-vehicle parts. Complete details will be found in " Trade, Commerce, and Shipping of the Territory of Western Samoa for the Calendar Year 1935." Exports. Copra, cocoa, rubber, and bananas are dealt with in the reports on Trade and Agriculture. Further details relative to trade are given in " Trade, Commerce, and Shipping of the Territory of Western Samoa for the Calendar Year 1935," and in the graphs appended to this report. Shipping.

Overseas Merchant Shipping entering Port of Apia.

Four British and two Japanese warships and one Polish and two American yachts entered and cleared the port during the year. X,— JUDICIAL ORGANIZATION. The Samoa Act, 1921, prescribes the judiciary for the Territory. The functions of a Chief Judge are now performed by a Magistrate from New Zealand, who makes periodical visits. While he is absent from the Territory minor cases are dealt with by one of the resident Commissioners of the High Court. The Land and Titles Commission is a special branch of the High Court constituted under the authority of the Native Land and Titles Protection Ordinance, 1934, and previous enactments. It is the only Court having jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate upon all claims or disputes between Samoans relating to Native land, Samoan names or titles, or succession to any property or rights in accordance with Native custom. This Court of special and final jurisdiction is unhampered by any set form of procedure or legal code ; its constitution requires it to give decisions only in conformity with Samoan usages and custom, as to which it is assisted by the presence of eight Native Commissioners in addition to such evidence as may be adduced. During the year the Commission was occupied for thirty-one sitting-days, involving the attendance of 1,260 Natives. The District Native Magistrates (Fa'amasino) were discontinued early in 1929, and experience since then has shown that the central Courts which function at Apia and Tuasivi are sufficient in a territory containing a population of a little over 54,000 and which has no distance greater than sixty miles from one or other of those centres. Preliminary work and inquiries in the outer districts are simplified by the services of the District Officers. The question as to whether the Fa'amasino should be re-established was discussed at the last Fono of Faipule, but no conclusion was reached, the general feeling being that as the present judiciary system is functioning well it would be unwise to disturb it. In civil disputes as between Samoans, it is the policy of the Native Department to do everything possible towards settlement without recourse to litigation. To this end the influence of individuals, families, and villages is enlisted, oratory being an accepted suasive force in Samoan affairs, and of course for the exercise of this form of assistance no statutory appointments are necessary. Out of some hundreds of Native civil disputes, the majority are settled by reconciliation, and in 1935-36 only twenty-one cases proceeded to the Land and Titles Commission. In its civil jurisdiction the High Court recorded judgments in 187 cases ; 38 cases were struck out. The total amount sued for amounted to £1,005 9s. lOd. Two divorces were granted. Particulars of criminal cases are given in the tables on the following pages.

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1933. 1934. 1935. Countries. Value. Percentage. Value. Percentage. Value. Percentage. £ £ £ United Kingdom .. .. 30,762 20-4 14,457 15-6 22,855 16-84 New Zealand .. •• 51,034 33-8 33,171 35-7 51,384 37-85 Australia .. .. .. 33,643 22-3 20,562 22-2 22,032 16-23 United States of America .. 12,117 8-0 8,949 9-6 14,151 10-42 Otter countries .. .. 23,300 15-5 15,645 16-9 25,335 18-66 Totals 150,856 100-0 92,784 100-0 135,757 100-00

Financial Year ended 31st March, 1935. 31st March, 1936. British, i Other, j Total. British. | Other, j Total. Number of vessels .. • • • • 68 28 96 72 40 112 Tonnage vessels .. ' . ■ •• 83,725 35,960 119,685 93,026 35,732 128,758 Tons cargo, inwards .. •• 6,324 1,860 8,184 8,605f l,975f 10,581f Tons cargo, outwards . . ■ ■ • • 13,025 7,134 20,159 I3,729f 12,223j- 25,953^