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15. This body had its origin partly in a lower " House of Faipule " established by the Constitution drawn up in 1873 by Steinberger for the Samoan Kingdom, and partly in a central advisory council or regional officials {Faipule) created in 1905 by the German Government to replace that House. Under New Zealand Administration such a Council was given statutory recognition (Samoa Amendment Act, 1923), though the Faipule continued to be nominated by the Administrator and still were looked on by the Samoans as official representatives of the Government rather than as their own representatives in the Government. By the Faipule Election Ordinance 1939 a definite move was made to shift the emphasis the other way. This Ordinance authorizes each constituency to " elect or choose " its representatives in such a manner as the matai (title-holders) of the constituency see fit, provided such a person is qualified in accordance with existing Samoan usage and custom. The process of election sometimes proves slow, and may engender considerable rivalry, but it is by now well established. The names submitted are still subject to confirmation by the Administrator. 16. The Faipule to-day, as a result of this process of development, and quite in accordance with Samoan custom, have both executive and advisory-legislative responsibilities. In their districts they give leadership as part-time paid officials in matters relating to the Administration. In the central Fono they become the primary means of consulting Samoan opinion through the Territory as a whole. The Fono proceedings follow Samoan custom, with elaborate formal and informal discussion, followed by crystallization of the general opinions in pronouncements by persons of higher rank. The Honourable Fautua have a de facto right to be present. The Fono provides a valuable mechanism for developing Samoan opinion in comprehensive fashion. A Faipule is also likely to find it desirable or expedient to consult the Councils and leaders in his own constituency in matters of importance. 17. On questions of paramount concern to the Samoan people the Administration may be asked to expand the group to include all toplevel Samoan officials, and also to invite unofficial representatives from the traditional districts. Such a " Council of Representatives of all Samoa " was held previous to the sending of the petition. Councils of " Representatives " have also been called unofficially by Samoan leaders, as at the time of the Mau movement, and recently at Lepea Village, near Apia, before and during the visit of the Mission, to formulate Samoan views. F. The Department of Native Affairs 18. The detailed relations between the Administration and the Samoan people, including regional and local administration, are mainly channelled through the Department of Native Affairs. This Department has its headquarters at Mulinu'u, the former capital of the Samoan Kingdom, about two miles from the general administrative centre at Apia. The Secretary of Native Affairs, who is in charge of the Department, is expected to be the main expert of the Government on all Samoan questions.