A-4

Titles to Crown land, European land, and European interests in Native land (leases) are registered by the Administration. The Native Land and Titles Court has jurisdictioti to hear and determine disputes affecting Native land. XVIII. AGRICULTURE Agricultural services consist of — (а) Inspection of all produce for export in order to maintain good marketable standards, and of land near the Port of Apia, principally to check the breeding of the rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicorms), pest of the coconut-trees, which was introduced during the period of German administration. These services are under European supervision. (б) Fourteen Samoan Plantation Inspectors, who are elected as part of the system of Samoan elective officials, and whose duty it is to encourage care of Samoan cultivations and new plantings. There has not been any evidence that the scoliid wasp, ScoUa; nificormis, which was mentioned in last year's report as having been introduced to combat the rhinoceros beetle, has become established. XIX.—POPULATION Statistics for the year ending 31st March, 1947, are given in the following } table:—

Alterations in population since April, 1921, the date of the first census taken by the New Zealand Administration, are shown hereunder:—

24

Designation. As at 31st March, 1946. Births. Deaths. Arrivals. Departures. As at 31st March, 1947. Grand Totals. M. F. M. F. 1 M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Europeans Part-Europeans Native Samoans Chinese Labourers Other Chinese Melansians Totals 217 2,712 32,310 294 4 74 149 2,333 30,933 '*3 1 3 55 1,536 1 43 1,363 1 8 356 4 i2 1 3 282 225 268 1,286 131 298 1,011 231 329 1,203 "l 121 335 903 213 2,698 33,573 290 3 62 159 2,336 32,122 "3 1 372 5,034 65,695 290 6 63 35,611 33,419 1,594 1,407 381 186 1,779 1,440 j 1,764 1,359 1 36,839 34,621 71,460 69,030 3,001 667 3,219 3,123 71,460

Designation. As at 17th April, 1921 As at 31st March, 1947. Total Increase or Decrease. Europeans and persons of part-Samoan blood Native Samoans Chinese labourers Melanesian labourers Other Chinese* 2,066 5,406 + 3,340 33,336 1,290 465 65,695 290 63 6 +32,359 - 1,000 - 402 + 6 Totals 37,157 71,460 +34,303 * Not shownjseparately in 1921 census.