19. The Department of Native Affairs is responsible for supervising the nomination by the Samoans of the highest Samoan officials and representatives, and the Secretary is expected to work with these leaders in their official activities. The Department also handles the administrative work of the L'and and Titles Court (see "Judiciary "), and publishes the official Gazette in the Samoan language. As a matter of policy it pays the fullest attention and respect to the ceremonial customs which are such a marked feature of Samoan life. 20. Estimated expenditure of the Native Affairs Department for the year 1947 to 1948 is £17,315, or about 3-7 per cent, of the total budget This includes the European and Samoan members of the classified staff (£5,089) and the 293 part-time Samoan officials at all levels (£7,400). It also includes expenses for Councils, and for travel and ceremonies (£2,750). G. District and Village Administration 21. Regional administration in Upolu Island is handled by four European members of the Native Affairs Department from the headquarters at the Native Affairs Department at Mulinu'u. Savai'i is supervised by a Resident Commissioner, with headquarters at Tuasivi in the area of the greatest settlement on that island. 22. Under these officials there are fourteen district administrations, eight on Upolu and six on Savai'i. Each is staffed by Samoan officials who are nominated by the people but formally appointed by the Administrator. These officials hold office for three years, and consist of a Fa'amasino or District Judge (see " Judiciary ") ; a Leoleo, or Policeman-Messenger; and a Pulefa'atoaga, or Plantation Inspector. These, together with the Faipules whose constituencies lie within each district, make up the district staffs under the Department. Contact is maintained by the European officials with these Samoan officials through visits and reports, and the Samoan officials also keep in touch with the regional public health and police staffs (see " Public Health " and " Public Order "). But their activities tend to be limited, as they are untrained part-time employees on low salaries (see " Personnel " ). Furthermore, inspections by European staff members have not been frequent enough to maintain close relationships with Samoan district officials, or with the village officials and the people of their districts. 23. At the village level, the Government is represented by an elected Samoan official of the same part-time status called the Pulenu'u (Mayor). As at 1947 there were two hundred Pulenu'u in Western Samoa, several of the larger communities having more than one. They are responsible for promulgating and enforcing the laws of the Government in such matters as registration of births and deaths, village cleanliness and order, control of live-stock, burial of the dead, reporting breaches of the peace to the District Judge, and working with the village school-teacher. They may act as representative of the Government in initiating preliminary discussions in disputes over land and titles. They maintain sporadic contact with the Samoan district officials, but more regular contact with the central headquarters through visits and reports.

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