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I. PUBLICATIONS A list of Legislative measures enacted during the year under review is given in Appendix IV. Copies of these enactments were forwarded to the Librarian, United Nations Organizations, as published. J. RESEARCH Education Relatively little research work, either in the field of the natural or that of the social sciences, has been undertaken under the direct control of the Government of Western Samoa. This is a direct consequence of the small size and limited resources of the Territory, which prevent the foundation of permanent research institutions. Some useful work has been done, however, by individual officers in their spare time, mainly in tropical medicine and sociology. Where research has been carried out on a more ambitious scale, it has generally been of one of two types : work undertaken by scientists sent to the Territory by the New Zealand Government to investigate some specific problem of pressing importance, or work sponsored by some private scientific foundation or University. There is still a very wide range of problems which would repay investigation from the point of view of pure science, as well as from that of practical administration. In respect of applied research, the Territory expects to benefit substantially from the establishment of the South Pacific Commission. There are many problems—in agriculture, medicine, education, &c. —which occur in essentially similar forms in a number of Pacific island areas. With the creation of an organization representing all administering Powers in the South Pacific, it has become more feasible to study them scientifically, as resources can now be pooled and existing knowledge readily exchanged. The Apia Observatory The only full-time scientific institution in the Territory is the Apia Observatory. This was established during the period of German rule to undertake geophysical research. It is now maintained and controlled by the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Its work covers the fields of terrestrial magnetism, seismology, meteorology, and some aspects of oceanography. Terrestrial Magnetism Continuous recordings of the three components of the earth's magnetic field are made. From the records so obtained hourly values of declination, horizontal force, and vertical force are deduced and forwarded to interested institutions throughout the world. In addition, data pertaining to magnetic storms and their effects on radio propagation conditions is also distributed. Seismology Continuous recordings of seismic disturbances have been kept for many years. Due to the isolation of the islands, the nearest observations are too far away to record many of the less intense local earthquakes that are recorded here. The station is therefore the only one that covers the surrounding region of the earth's surface. The existing seismographs are nearly fifty years old, but still continue to give satisfactory service. A modern seismograph constructed in New Zealand was installed at the Observatory late last year. Analyses of all earthquakes'recorded are forwarded quarterly to most of the other observatories of the world.
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