A.—4.

Copies of all these measures have been sent to the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, to be forwarded to the Permanent Mandates Commission. The cordiality which has characterized the relations between the Samoan people and the Administration for the past few years continued to be manifest and government functioned smoothly. The Legislative Council met twice in August, 1940, and twice in March, 1941, when the Ordinances mentioned above were passed. The Faipule chosen at the elections during the latter part of 1939 assembled in Fono from 20th August until 6th September of 1940. Being also the first meeting of this body since the commencement of the war, the Faipule expressed their views in tangible form by subscribing to voluntary local efforts for the purchase of a fighter aircraft to aid Britain. The good yield of the cocoa plantations continued throughout the year under review, and satisfactory prices have been recorded for the parcels that have been sold. A very considerable increase in the quantity exported was recorded, a total of 1,801 tons (£75,193) being exported, as against 650 tons (£25,152) in 1939. Copra-producers have faced severe hardship, consequent upon the almost complete collapse of the overseas copra-market. The first step of the New Zealand Government to alleviate the immediate distress was to remit the imposition of the copra-export duty on condition that the equivalent amount was passed on to producers in increased prices paid by the buying houses. This remission of duty still holds good. The next step of the New Zealand Government was to purchase traders' accumulated stocks on hand amounting to some 4,000 tons. A total of 5,644 tons (£44,004) was exported in 1940, as compared with 12,536 tons (£108,078) in 1939. The Acting-Administrator during a visit to New Zealand and Australia attended a conference with representatives of Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific Administrations on the copra industry. Finance. An examination of the year's accounts reveals a deficit of £2,020. Particulars are given in Chapter VI, " Public Finance." Land-settlement. The Aleisa settlers have continued to develop new areas, planting bananas and cocoa. During the calendar year 1940 they shipped 12,016 cases of bananas. The Aleisa Settlement areas were renamed " Lagisitone " to identify them more clearly from the larger Aleisa District. The Administration records its thanks to the members of the Lagisitone Land-settlement Board for their interest and assistance in the control of the settlement. Postal and Radio. The value of money-orders paid at Apia was £2,428, a decrease of £869 from last year's figure. Withdrawals from the Post Office Savings-bank totalled £23,607, and deposits were £26,322. The number of depositors as at 31st March, 1941, was 2,828, with a total amount of £68,139 held to their credit. There were 6,758 radio messages handled, the revenue being £1,670. Staff. Particulars are given in the following table as at 31st March of each year : —

3

Persons of Native Elective Samoan Europeans. Part- a District and Village Samoan Blood. r»moans. Officials. Services. 1940. 1941. 1940. 1941. 1940. 1941. 1940. 1941. Classified departmental .staffs — Education .. .. .. 9 8 11 10 259 252 Health 16 17 3 3 137 136 Native Affairs .. .. .. 3 3 1 1 12 12 240 233 Police and Prisons .. .. 6 5 3 3» 48 49 Other services .. .. 27 27 22 21 35 36 61 60 40 38 491 485 240 233 Casual employees .. .. .. 3 3 36 32 30 30 Totals .. .. 64 63 76 70 521 515 240 233