A. —4

In Samoa— No. 2/1941 : The Road Closing Ordinance. No. 3/1941 : The Samoan Status Amendment Ordinance. No. 1/1942 : The Road Closing Ordinance. No. 2/1942 : The General Laws Amendment Ordinance. No. 1/1944 : The Revenue Amendment Ordinance. No. 2/1944 : The Asaga Road Closing Ordinance. No. 3/1944 : The General Laws Amendment Ordinance. The Governor-General of New Zealand by Warrant dated 22nd February, 1943, appointed Mr. A. C. Turnbull to be Administrator of the Territory, effective as on 19th February, 1943. Mr. Turnbull had been Acting-Administrator since 1935. An event of the first importance was the arrival, commencing in March, 1942, of United States Forces in considerable strength. An agreement had previously been concluded between the local United States officers and New Zealand representatives whereby the conduct of the Civil administration and the maintenance of internal order continued to be the responsibility of the Administration and the defence of the Territory was undertaken by the United States Forces. The construction of an adequate airport was immediately commenced by the United States Command. This project called for the removal and establishment elsewhere of two Samoan villages of one thousand two hundred inhabitants, all of which was accomplished with prior agreement of those concerned. Suitable land was made available in exchange, and compensation awarded in cash where required to meet other losses. All such land and compensation were provided by the New Zealand Government. The presence of large numbers of troops, the remunerative employment that was available, and the large amount of extra money circulating had an immediate effect on the economy of the Territory. The great bulk of the American Forces have now moved to forward areas, and conditions have reverted to normal. An election for European members of the Legislative Council was held in November, 1941, and resulted in the re -election of the Hon. 0. F. Nelson and the election of the Hon. A. Stowers. The death in February, 1944, of the Hon. 0. F. Nelson, who served on the Legislative Council for over eight years, is recorded with regret. The late Mr. Nelson was an outstanding leader of the Samoan people. The next election, in. November, 1944, resulted in the re-election of the Hon. A. Stowers and the election of the Hon. A. G. Smyth, who had been an elected member of the Council during the 1935-38 term. The death is also regretfully recorded of the Hon. Alipia, Samoan member of the Legislative Council, in January, 1943. The nomination of the Hon. Tualaulelei in his stead was submitted by the Fono of Faipule and adopted by Government. The Legislative Council, the Finance Committee (referred to in the 1936-37 report), and the Fono of Faipule have met regularly since submission of the last report. On expiry of the three years' term of office of members of the Fono of Faipule in 1942, the Administrator received nominations from constituencies and confirmed such submissions of members of the new Fono of Faipule, as provided in the Faipule Election Ordinance (No. 1/1939). Cocoa and Copra Following the entry into the war of the United States of America, the prices for cocoa beans and copra rose considerably. Since July, 1942, the total production of copra has been purchased by the British Ministry of Food at a reasonable price, and appropriate prices to be paid by merchants to producers have been fixed by the Administration. In 1942 the Food Controller purchased the cocoa-bean crop for the year at satisfactory prices and the Administration fixed the prices payable to producers. Since January, 1943, merchants have negotiated their own sales of cocoa beans at increased prices, and the Administration continues to watch the interests of producers. Pbice Control It has been the general policy of the Price Tribunal to control prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities such as petrol, kerosene, and building-material so that the profit is limited to the amount of the monetary margin of profit obtaining at the 3rd September, 1939, on the same or similar goods. In the past four years 224 Price Orders covering 1,016 lines of goods have been issued. In February, 1943, all goods not covered by specific Price Orders were brought under control by the issue of a Price Order which fixed the selling-prices of these goods at landed cost plus 30 per cent, in Apia or landed cost plus 40 per cent, in out-districts. Generally the prices fixed have been observed by the trading community, but prosecutions for overcharging were taken in 90 cases and convictions obtained in 78 instances. No special staff has been provided to implement the policy of price control, which has nevertheless been reasonably successful in retarding the rise in the cost of living, despite the many opportunities for profiteering which existed during the period when a large body of troops were stationed in the Territory and when consumer goods wore in short supply.

3