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35. The rapidly increasing part-Samoan group of European status also offers an economic problem which is already serious. Non-Samoans are not at present legally permitted to acquire additional " Native " land by purchase ; yet many families are being forced back to the soil for a livelihood because of the limited vocational opportunities open to Europeans in commercial and official spheres. Already a number of them have migrated to New Zealand in search of opportunity. Partly to meet this problem the New Zealand authorities in 1934 provided a legal process by which part-Samoans could become naturalized to Samoan status, so as to be able to adopt Samoan ways of life. They also developed from 1936 a land-settlement scheme for thirty-four families at Aleisa, near Apia (see Annex I). The pressure of this problem should be eased once the legal distinction between Europeans and Samoans is ended. Meantime, in view of the very important role played by the part-Samoans in the life and thought of the country, the problem of their economic welfare must receive the closest attention. It should be possible to lease further land for needy families which have insufficient land. 36. Since the recruitment of more Chinese labourers or other aliens appears undesirable, and the small number now in the islands will increasingly pass beyond the age of effective work, the problem of developing a local labour force becomes of vital importance. There is no difficulty to-day in getting casual unskilled labour. But the Samoan, usually living in his own community, and with limited money wants, is rarely interested in long-term employment, or in acquiring complicated work skills. Comments were heard on the limited capacity of Samoan labour compared with white labour, but these would seem to be at least in part a result of limited horizons. Inadequate nutrition and the wide prevalence of curable intestinal parasites constitute important factors in the problem. In the long run, it seems fair to expect that as Samoan economic wants increase and individual initiative strengthens, and as health conditions improve, the labour question will be solved. 37. The Samoan representatives asked for continuing protection against further alienation of Samoan lands, and this reasonable request is being met by current New Zealand policies (see Annex I, Chapter 111 C). Once the legal distinction between European and Samoan residents is removed it will probably be necessary to continue to restrict the transfer of land rights by sale or lease. Such legislation should be in a form which will not interfere with the handling of land according to Samoan custom, yet will protect the Samoans against unwise alienation of what are at present called " Native lands " to individuals under westernstyle ownership. This might be done by requiring all land transactions other than by Samoan custom to be registered with the Lands and

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