DEPARTMENT OF ISLAND TERRITORIES TOKELAU ISLANDS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1949

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1949 Session I, A-06

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1949 NE W ZEAL A N I)

DEPARTMENT OF ISLAND TERRITORIES TOKELAU ISLANDS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1949

Presented to Both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

The Right Hon. the Minister of Island Territories to His Excellency ' the Governor-General. . Wellington, 23rd August, 1949. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report on the Administration of the Tokelau Islands for the year ended 31st March, 1949. P. FRASER, Minister of Island Territories. His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand.

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CONTENTS I. General Information— page 1. Location and Area . . .. . • • • • • • • 3 2. Population .. .. • • • • • • • • • • . . 3 3. Topographical . . . . .. • • • • • • • • . . 4 4. Climate .. - . . ■ ■ • • • • • • • .. 4 5. History ■ ■ • ■ • • • - • • • • • • • • 4 6. People .. . . .. • • ■ ■ • • • • • • .. 5 7. Government . . .. • • • • • • • • • • .. 6 8. Christian Missions . . .. .. • • • ■ • • .. 6 9. Judicial Organization . . .. .. .. • • •. .. 7 11. Social Conditions — 10. Labour and Employment . . .. .. • • • • .. 8 11. Health and Sanitation .. .. .. .. .. •• ..8 12. Water-supplies .. . . •. • • • • • • • • .. 9 111. Educational Conditions — 13. Education .. .. . • • • • • • • • • .. 9 IV. Economic Conditions —• 14. Natural Resources . . . ■ • • • • • • • • . . 10 15. Agriculture .. .. • • • • • • • • • • .. 10 16. Soil Analysis .. . . ■ • • • • • • • ■ • .. 10 17. Communications and Shipping .. .. .. •• •• ..11 18. Finance .. •• •• •• •• •• •• ..11 19. Trade .. .. •■ •• •• • • • • • • .. 12 20. Visits . . ■ • • • • • • ■ • • • • • • • • 12 Appendix I Meteorological .. .. .. • • • • • • • • «< '•■ I*

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I. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Location and Area The Tokelau Islands consist of four atoll islands, Fakaofo, Nukunono, Atafu, and Olosega or Swain's Island. The last named was annexed to American Samoa in 1925. Fakaofo, Nukunono, and Atafu, which are governed by New Zealand, are situated between latitude 8° and 10° south and longitude 171° and 173° west. The distance from Apia to Fakaofo is about 270 miles, that from Fakaofo to Nukunono is about 40 miles, and from Nukunono to Atafu about 57 miles. Each atoll consists of a number of small coral islets round the lagoon, varying in length from 100 yards to 4 miles, but all are fairly uniform as to width—viz., 100 to 400 yards—and, with one or two exceptions, all are approximately from 8 ft. to 10 ft. high. The size of each atoll is approximately as under:—

The largest islet in the Group is on the east of the atoll of Nukunono; it is 4 miles long and 300 yards wide. 2. Population The following are the figures from the last census taken in September, 1945:

The clerk on each island keeps a roll in which are included those absent oil other islands, and as the last census figures show that, 153 Tokelau Islanders were absent in Samoa, mostly to attend the London Missionary Society and Catholic schools and, to a lesser degree, to seek employment, the total number of this small branch of the Polynesian people in 1945 was 1,526. Births and deaths since that date bring the total as at 31st March, 1949, to 1,616. A count of the Islanders in March, 1949, showed 1,434 living in the Group at that time. From accounts of early missionaries it is apparent that the numbers of inhabitants were severely reduced by the depredations of the South American, and particularly Peruvian, " blackbirders " who operated in the Group probably

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Island. Land Area. Length North to South. Width East to West. Circumference. Number of Islets. """ Acres. Miles. Miles. Miles. Fakaofo 650 H 5 16 61 Nukunono 1,350 7 6| 24 22 Atafu 500 1 3 8 19

— Males. Females. Hamoans. Total. Fakaofo 268 297 5 570 Nukunono 195 169 3 367 Atafu 202 242 7 451 Total 1,388 Less Samoans 15 Tokelau Islanders 1,373

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between 1850 and 1870. The Be v. Newall relates that some 247 people were taken from Fakaofo in 1863, and Nukunono was raided about the same time, when all but 80 of the inhabitants were removed. Shortly before the arrival of a mission ship in 1868 the Peruvians had taken 116 men from Fakaofo and 30 from. Atafu. The population is now increasing steadily, and because of the traditional mode of living together on the leeward side of on.e islet, and leaving the remaining areas for plantation purposes, one island at least, Fakaofo, is becoming seriously overcrowded, and at some time in the near future it may become necessary to settle some of the population on other suitable islets. 3. Topographical The reef at each island extends only a short distance from the shore, and then descends steeply into very deep water, so that the few anchorages are not good. Vessels usually land or ship their stores and personnel in the local canoes or small boats. The landing-places on the reef on each islet are difficult to negotiate, and great skill is required on the part of the people to shoot their canoes'over the reef, except when the sea is very calm. All the inhabitants reside on one small coral islet on which the village is located; and which in each ease is on the leeward side of the atoll—i.e., the north-west, west, or south-west. This is an advantage to vessels visiting these islands, as the prevailing trade-wind, which is from the south-east, as well as the drift of the current from the east, both tend under normal conditions to cause any vessel lying off the western shore to drift away from the reef. But from time to time heavy swells or winds from other directions make the reefs unworkable. 4. Climate The (rroup lies within the hurricane belt and has from time to time experienced severe gales, though none have been reported during the last few years. Atafu suffered a westerly gale in February, 1941, Fakaofo a northeasterly gale of force 8 on 14th January, 1936, and a westerly gale of force 9 on the following day. Nukunono has on record a north-north-east gale in December, 1939, and a westerly gale in February, 1942, the latter being accompanied by a twenty-four-hour rainfall of 6-20 in. During the wet season from November' to February northerly winds are predominant, while easterlies are the prevailing winds during the drier months from May to August. The average estimated wind speed is from 5 knots to 6 knots. March, April, and May show the lowest wind velocities and July and August the highest. At Nukunono the mean annual rainfall from four years' observations was 120 in. The annual rainfall at Nukunono for the year under review was 121 in., which is approximately 20 in. lower than that of Apia. There is only slight variation of temperature during the year, July being the coolest month with 82-1° p. and May the warmest with 83-2° p. The annual mean temperature is 82-5° p. 5. Historical Swain's Island was _ probably the first of the Tokelau Group to be discovered by Europeans*. The Spanish discoverer, Quiros, landed there in 1606 in search of water, and for a time the island was known as Quiros' Island. A century and a half later, on 21st June, 1765, Atafu was discovered by Commodore Byron, R.N. The next visit to Atafu was on 6th June, 1791, by Captain Edwards, commanding H.M.S. " Pandora " in search of the " Bounty "

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mutineers. Three days later Edwards discovered Nukunono. Fakaofo was discovered in 1841 by a Frenchman, Captain Morvan, in command of the " Adolphe." In the same year Captain Hudson, of the United States Exploring Expedition, after visiting Atafu, came on Fakaofo and recorded its discovery. Sailing south from Fakaofo, Hudson rediscovered Quiros' Island and renamed it Swain's Island after his informant in Samoa. In 1856 an American, Eli Jennings, took over Swain's Island from three Frenchmen who had settled there as agents of a French trading company, and the island remained in the hands of his family until 1925, the year of its annexation to American Samoa. In 1877 the Tokelau Islands were included under the protection of Great Britain in terms of an Imperial • Order in Council. In 1889 Commodore Oldham, of H.M.S. " Egeria," landed at each of the three northern atolls and officially raised the Union Jack, declaring the Group to be a protectorate of Great Britain. On 29th February, 1916, the islands, at the request of the inhabitants, were formally annexed to Great Britain by an Order in Council which also extended the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony to include the Tokelau Group (then known as the Union Islands) and their dependencies. Up to Ist October, 1925, the Group was governed by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific and administered by the District Officer at Funafuti, in the Elliee Group. At this' period the New r Zealand Government, at the request of His Majesty's Government, agreed to administer the islands. By the Union Islands (No. 1) Order in Council 1925 the Group was disannexed from the Gilbert and Ellice Island Colony, and by the Union Islands (No. 2) Order in Council 1925 the Governor-General in Council of the Dominion of New Zealand was empowered to make laws for their peace, order, and good government, and authorized to delegate from time to time to the Administrator of Western Samoa so much of this power as might be considered desirable. The right was reserved to the Governor-General in Council to disallow any laws passed under this delegated power and to make any restriction deemed proper. The vesting of administrative powers in the Administrator of Western Samoa (now the High Commissioner) was a matter of convenience, the Tokelau Group having no political connection with the Territory of Western Samoa. The Tokelau Nomenclature Ordinance 1946 made by the Administrator officially fixed the name of the Group, hitherto sometimes referred to as the Union Islands, as the Tokelau Islands or the Tokelau Islands Dependency. By the Tokelau Islands Act, 1948, the Tokelau Group was included within the territorial boundaries of New Zealand; legislative powers are now vested in the Governor-General in Council, while executive powers remain with the Administrator. 6. People Two separate and distinct migrations of people seem to have inhabited the Tokelau Islands at different times. A record exists of the original inhabitants who were seen by Quiros when he visited the Group in 1606. They are reported to have been fair in colouring with golden hair, and are stated by Quiros to have used large double canoes some 60ft. long. Abandoned taro pits thought to have been used by these early inhabitants are still to be seen around the shore of the land-locked lagoon on Swain's Island. By the time of the next reported visit by Europeans in 1841, this population had disappeared. Survivors had apparently existed for a period on Nukunono after being driven out by a new migration of people which, settling first at Fakaofo, conquered the whole Group over a long period of years and absorbed the earlier inhabitants.

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Traditions suggest that this second people came from Samoa. The Tokeiau language, though possessing local peculiarities, is a Polynesian dialect and in many respects resembles Samoan. Much of the culture of the Tokeiau Islands is also closely related to that of Samoa. The official language is Samoan, since the Tokeiau dialect is not readily understood by Samoans, whereas the Bible they use is a Samoan version and most of their pastors are Samoans who are accustomed to preach in their own language. All- Tokeiau Islanders are virtually bi-lingual, but it is a fact that the old Tokeiau dialect is dying out gradually, and most people born during the last fifty years have no reliable information about the language. 7. Government The situation which had obtained since 1925 whereby the New Zealand Government administered the Tokeiau Group on behalf of the British (Imperial) Government underwent a complete change with the passing in New Zealand of the Tokeiau Islands Act on 29th October, 1948. This Act provided for the incorporation of the islands as part of New Zealand, and came into force on Ist January, 1949. An Imperial Order in Council of 13th September, 1948, which came into force at the same time as the Tokeiau Islands Act, 1948, ceded the Group to New Zealand. The passing of the Tokeiau Islands Act, 1948, has made little change in the administration of the islands. By regulations made under the Act the High Commissioner of Western Samoa has been reappointed Administrator of the Tokeiau Islands, but instead of his making Ordinances for the peace, order, and good government of the Group, the Governor-General in Council may make regulations for these purposes. All existing laws in the islands remain in force. It is, however, intended to review all existing legislation and to consolidate and codify it. In view of the small population and the simple life which is led in the Group, it is considered that only a simple code of law is required. It has not so far been considered necessary to station any European staff in the Tokeiau Islands. The executive administration therein is carried out by the following officials on each of the three atolls: — Faipule and Magistrate (Fa'amasino). Pulenu'u (Mayor of village). Failautusi (clerk and postal officer). Wireless operator and weather reporter. Chief of Police. Police. Wardress. Native medical practitioner. Native nurse. Dresser. 411 appointments are made by the Administrator. The Administrator visits the Group at least once annually, and other officers of the Samoan Administration make visits on his behalf as the opportunities occur. 8. Christian Missions There is a long and valuable record of missionary activity in the Tokeiau Islands. The Roman Catholic Mission and London Missionary Society work in the Group and, besides ministering to the inhabitants, maintain schools and provide a social organization for the people.

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The first contact with the Group by the missionaries was made in the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1846 two canoes of Tokelau Islanders, the survivors of a fleet dispersed by storms, lauded at Wallis Island, to the west of Savai'i in Samoa. Here the survivors were succoured by Roman Catholic missionaries who had been working for several years with the Wallis people. In 1861 the Catholic Mission returned to the Tokelaus a party of sixteen men and women who had gone to Wallis Island in 1852 and been converted to Christianity. On this occasion the missionaries themselves landed and preached Christianity, though for a long period the inhabitants were reluctant to be converted. In 1858 the London Missionary Society vessel " John Williams " visited Fakaofo and the Rev. Murray left behind on the island two Tokelau Islanders who had learned Christianity in Samoa. Two Christian Rarotongans were placed on Atafu at the same time, and here their teaching was immediately successful. Nukunono had in the meantime been successfully converted to Catholicism. Frequent visits to the Tokelaus by missionary vessels during the subsequent years confirmed the establishment of Christianity in the Group. At the present day the inhabitants of Atafu and the majority of those on .Fakaofo are adherents of the London Missionary Society, while the people of Nukunono are adherents of the Roman Catholic Mission. The London Missionary Society's new " John Williams " has resumed annual visits to Atafu and Fakaofo. Two Catholic priests, one European and one Samoan, have been in residence on Nukunono since December, 1946. In September, 1948, three sisters, one European and two Samoan, arrived on this island to take up residence at the newly established convent. The Catholic Mission has trained Tokelau catechists to work with their own people, and the London Missionary Society from time to time sends Samoan pastors for terms of duty in Fakaofo and Atafu. The educational work of the missions is dealt with under the educational section of this report. 9. Judicial Organization At present the Fa'amasino —Native Magistrates appointed by the Administrator —have limited summary jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters. There is a Chief of Police on each island, and, in addition, three Native constables at Atafu, two at Nukunono, and three at Fakaofo. There is also a wardress on the Police establishment. The full criminal code of law was published in the annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1948. Of this, the principal crimes and their penalties are:—

There is an absence of serious crime in the Group. Any term of imprisonment is served in Samoa,

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Offence. Maximum Penalty. V Murder Theft Drunkenness Malicious damage to cultivation Death. Sentence carried out only on the authority of the Governor-General of New Zealand. Six months' imprisonment or fine of £5. Where a knife or other weapon has been used, up to two years' imprisonment. One to six . months' imprisonment. Three to twelve months' imprisonment and to make good loss.

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11. SOCIAL CONDITIONS 10. Labour and Employment No industries with, the exception of the collection and preparation of copra for export exist in the area and therefore no necessity has arisen for the supervision of the labour and employment conditions of the Natives in the (xroup. No labour is recruited in the area for employment elsewhere in the Pacific. The islanders are allowed to visit Samoa without restriction and while there are generally supervised by the Administration and cared for by the missions. 11. Health and Sanitation Health services in the Tokelau Islands are organized and supervised from Apia, from where also the supplies are drawn. The basic staff on each of the three islands consists of one local dresser (male) and one local nurse (female). Two Samoan medical practitioners are resident in the islands. At Atafu, the northern atoll, there is a Samoan medical practitioner in full-time residence. The other two islands share a Samoan medical practitioner, who resides in each for approximately six months per year. At Fakaofo, where there is the largest population, there is, in addition, a Samoan trained nurse. A European qualified Medical Officer visits the islands at appro dmately six-monthly intervals. In each island the dressers and local nurses serve in the hospital, doing mainly out-patient dressings, and nursing such in-patients as may be admitted. The Samoan medical practitioner performs the full functions, both preventive and therapeutic, of a doctor, holding his more difficult cases for consultation with the European Medical Officer when he comes. The addition of a Samoan trained nurse to the staff at Fakaofo was for the purpose of separating health maintenance, and particularly infant-welfare work, from the general function of the hospital there. Her duties are mainly concerned with health education and supervision in these fields through the women's committees. • The women's committees are voluntary organizations to which most of the women, in each island belong and through whom health education and propaganda may be disseminated. They perform a useful function by mutual assistance in such matters as home nursing and maternal and infant-welfare work. In addition, they perform a useful social function by keeping alive the Native arts and crafts and assuring that the home conditions of each family are at least up to a minimum standard laid down by the Committees. The incidence of disease in the islands is slight. There have been no cases of smallpox, leprosy, plague, or cholera, and yellow fever is unknown. The only mosquito identified in the islands is the Aedes pseudoscutellaris, and filaria is present, carried by this mosquito. There is no malaria. Recent surveys reveal a micro-filarial rate of about 10 per cent., most of the carriers having resided either in Samoa or some other endemic zone for at least some months. No cases of syphilis have been reported, although yaws is common among the children, but is quickly reduced by appropriate therapy. Rats constitute an economic problem of some magnitude, but examinations of rats caught have failed to reveal that they are the carriers of any disease. The health of these small communities is satisfactory. Their villages are clean, and the general sanitary conditions are good. Latrines present only a small problem, as they can be erected over deep water on all living islets, but care must be exercised to ensure that this is always done. Several visits have been made and extractions and treatment given by Samoan dental officers, and on a recent visit a European Medical Officer examined eye conditions and prescribed 179 pair of spectacles,

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The diet of the people, which consists mainly of fish and coconuts, appears to be deficient in many necessary ingredients, though it does not seem to be detrimental to the health of the inhabitants. 12. Water-supplies Under primitive conditions, life in coral atolls is complicated by the necessity for storing every available drop of water. The indigenous method was to cut grooves and hollows on the under-side of the trunks of coconutpalms and so lead the water into numerous small reservoirs. Water-tanks have now been placed on each of the islets. At Fakaofo there are three tanks with a total capacity of 43,800 gallons and a catchment area of 2,646 square feet. At Nukunono there are three tanks with a total capacity of 35,500 gallons and a catchment area of 2,700 square feet. At Atafu the two tanks have a total capacity of 42,500 gallons with a catchment area of 2,700 square feet. On Fakaofo there are two wells, and on Atafu one of a less satisfactory nature, all of which are available for use for washing purposes. Three of the tanks, one in each atoll, have been completed within the last few years. The provision of additional storage capacity has reduced the number of drinking-nuts previously consumed, and this should increase the amount of copra available, for export. According to normal public-health standards, however, the available supply of fresh water on each atoll is still inadequate, and attention will be given in future to the examination of such local conditions as may make it possible to increase the fresh-water supply. The large meetinghouses in each village, for instance, might be suitably roofed so as to provide additional catchment areas, and extra tanks could then be erected alongside. Forty-four-gallon drums are in some cases used as reservoirs alongside trees, but the danger associated with this method is that diseases borne by mosquitoes might thereby be encouraged, as it is difficult to induce the people to keep the drums covered. The increase in the available water-supply might make it easier to combat the present prevalence of skin-diseases, but it would be necessary to educate the islanders to make proper and regular use of the additional water-supply if extra tanks were installed. 111. EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS 13. Education Village schools under mission pastors or eatechists are maintained on each island, education being limited for the most part to elementary arithmetic, reading and writing the Samoan language, and scriptural literature. It has not been possible up to the present to establish there Samoan teachers, as the islanders themselves prefer the present arrangement owing to the difficulty of maintaining suitably in the atolls strangers from other Groups who are accustomed to a different mode of life. Some assistance has, however, been afforded the mission schools. The Superintendent of Schools from Samoa paid a visit to all atolls in 1945. Stationery, materials, and other equipment have been supplied from time to time, and it is also intended to send School Journals in Samoan and, as they become available in the future, elementary text-books in the Samoan and English languages. Additional radio receiving-sets are on order for distribution to institutions and villages in Samoa, and when these, arrive it is proposed to make one available to each of the Tokelau atolls; this will ensure that children in the Tokelau schools have an opportunity of listening to regular education transmissions from Samoa.

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The Catholic Mission has established a convent school at Nukunono under the charge of a European sister who is aided by two Samoan sisters. The village has erected a large new school which is attended by 145 pupils. Desks, blackboards, and other equipment for the school were purchased out of money reserved especially for the purpose from the sale of copra. The curriculum includes English, arithmetic, geography, and writing, with sewing and weaving for the girls, and woodwork and canoecraft for the boys. The Tokelau catechist teaches at the village school with the assistance of the European and Samoan priests. Certain of the brighter Tokelau children are sent from time to time to attend London Missionary Society or Catholic schools in Samoa. Some students have also been chosen to receive training in Government schools in Samoa with a view to later employment as clerks, radio operators, or, on the request of the Tokelau people themselves, possibly as medical cadets in preparation for further training as medical practitioners. IV. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 14. Natural Resources The natural resources of the Tokelau Islands are limited by the lack of fertility of the soil, which permits an agricultural subsistence economy and the production annually of a certain amount of copra for export. There are no known mineral resources. Coconut palms are a characteristic feature of the landscape. Kanava or Tauanave (Gordia subcordata) is the only timber tree of importance; this is used for canoes, houses, and domestic utensils. The trees are short and stubby and the trunks of good specimens rarely exceed 2 ft. in diameter. Another useful tree is fala, the edible pandanus, the timber of which is also sometimes used in house-building. One island in each atoll is usually reserved for timber plantations. The preservation of good supplies of Kanava is vital to the islanders in view of their widespread use in canoe-building. 15. Agriculture The food of the inhabitants consists of coconut, fish, fowl, bananas, ta'amu (a type of taro), the fruit of the edible pandanus, and occasionally pork. Fish is plentiful and easily caught. Fowls and pigs are kept in each village, but not in sufficient numbers to. provide a continuous source of meat. Few bananas are grown owing to the absence of humus. Ta'amu, a larger member of the taro family, is grown on all three islands and to some extent replaces taro, which cannot be made to grow on any. Pulaka, a coarse tuber similar to the Samoan wild bush taro, is cultivated on each atoll, and a variety of kumara is grown on one islet of Fakaofo. The edible pandanus fruits twice a year in May and November. 16. Soil Analysis Samples of the soil or coral rubble from each of the three atolls sent to New Zealand for analysis by the Cawthron Institute in 1945 showed a larger percentage of coarse particles which failed to pass the 2-millimetre-mesh sieve. This coarse fraction contained approximately 90 per cent, of calcium carbonate, leaving only 10 per cent, for the soil, stones, and organic matter contained in the coarse fraction. The material passing the 2-millimetre sieve contained from 78 per cent, to 85 per cent, of calcium carbonate. This left from 15 per cent, to 22 per cent, of actual soil, including organic matter, combined water, and possible stone

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particles. The analysis thus showed a very high .percentage of calcium carbonate, or coral, and a relatively small percentage of true soil. It was suggested that crops might be grown if the coral were broken up and mixed with as much vegetable refuse as possible. The use of a supplement of blood-and-bone and muriate of potash was also recommended, but it was considered by the Cawthron Institute that a successful result was not very likely. The experiment suggested was carried out. . Experimental plots were ■established in Fakaofo, and control or checking plots were also prepared in Samoa in large samples of coral from each of the atolls. Taro, Ta'amu, and kumaras were planted and at first showed rapid progress, but as subsequent showers of rain leached out the chemical additions to the coral, soil growth slowed and, later on, ceased altogether. It does not appear, therefore, that the addition of chemical supplements represents a good approach to the problem of the infertility of Tokelau soil. Heavy mulching and composting seems to be the only solution, but it is difficult to persuade the Tokelau people to do this consistently in order to raise small crops. They recognize the value of the use of vegetable refuse, however, and they are accustomed to lay down coconut husks round the bases of their few banana-plants. 17. Communications and Shipping For the past ten years the principal communications with the Group have been maintained by means of Government-chartered shipping or aircraft. Mission ships also make occasional calls, and units of the Royal New Zealand Navy have resumed the annual visits which were interrupted by the war. On the above visits the Administrator takes the opportunity of inspecting the Group. Modern wireless transmitting and receiving sets have now been installed on each atoll in charge of operators trained at Apia on their new ■equipment. Until the war years made it dangerous to do so, the islanders occasionally made voyages from one atoll to another in their own canoes. From Fakaofo to Nukunono is approximately 40 miles, and the distance between Nukunono and Atafu is 57 miles. With the re-establishment of wireless-stations in the Group such voyages are now permitted, subject to certain conditions such as the reporting to Apia by wireless both of departure and arrival of the canoe. The Tokelau Islands are removed from normal Pacific shipping routes; this lack of communications is in part made up by visits by flying-boats of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, which carry urgently required supplies or personnel. Arrangements are being made for the institution of a regular threemonthly air service to the Tokelau Islands by Catalina flying-boats of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In view of the difficulty which has been experienced in chartering ships to make trading and official visits to the Group, inquiries are -being made by the New Zealand Government with a view to the purchase of a suitable vessel. 18. Finance No formal Budget is drawn up for the financial administration of the Group. The High Commissioner of Western Samoa, in his capacity of representative of the New Zealand Government, keeps a separate account in the Samoan Treasury of receipts and payments in respect of the Tokelau Islands. All revenue is paid to this account and all expenditure met from it. Where proposals are in train for construction or other projects that require a substantial sum of money, the New Zealand Government provides the subsidy

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required for this purpose, the amount in due course appearing on the annual estimates of the Island Territories Department. Apart from subsidies required for special purposes, if the account at any time shows a deficit which cannot within a reasonable period be reimbursed from ordinary revenue or profit on the sale of copra or trading, the New Zealand Government provides a sum to balance the account. The islanders themselves contribute to revenue by means of a tax paid in copra. The amount of the tax is 18 tons from the whole G-roup—9 from. Fakaofo, 7 from Nukunono, and 2 from Atafu. The principal source of revenue during the year under review was from the new Tokelau Islands stamp issue. Approximately 172,000 covers were cancelled in the three post-offices in the Group on the first day of sale in June r 1948, while sales handled through the agency of the Apia Post-office on the first day amounted to over £1,600. Regular orders continue to be received from dealers and philatelists. The currency employed in the Tokelau Group is the same as that in use in Western Samoa. New Zealand or Australian silver and Samoan treasury notes pass as legal tender. American currency, while not legal tender, isaccepted. 19. Trade The only goods exported from the Group are copra and a certain small amount of novelties and plaited ware. With the improved water-supplies, the numbers of coconuts which can be converted into copra have increased, and the total exportable amount of Copra per annum has been estimated in the vicinity of 300 tons. This estimate is, however, based on the assumption that adequate shipping can be provided. In the financial year ended 31st March, 1948, only about 120 tons of copra were exported because of lack of adequate shipping. Similarly during the year under review, although 290 tons were exported, cropping was exceptionally heavy and probably another 150 tons could have been exported had the shipping been available. Prior to the late war, copra was purchased and goods sold in the Group by a firm of Apia merchants operating with its own schooner. Later, when this service was discontinued, the Administrator arranged for the Tokelau Group to be visited in small launches to supply food and other urgent requirements, and this means of communication has been developed with the use of larger chartered schooners. The proposal referred to in the last report to hand back trading and copra purchases to private merchants operating in Apia met with no response, and arrangements are now being made for these operations to be passed over to the New Zealand Reparation Estates in Samoa. v 20. Visits His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Cyril Freyberg, Y.C., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., K.8.E., D.S.O. LL.D., accompanied by Lady Freyberg and their staff, paid an official visit to the Tokelau Islands in H.M.N.Z.S. " Bellona" in July, 1948. The people gave their distinguished visitors a splendid welcome, and Their Excellencies were greatly impressed by the demonstrations of loyalty which was a feature of the visit.

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APPENDIX I Meteorological Meteorological observations were commenced at Atafu Village, on the north-western side of the atoll, in 1925, and synoptic reports have been forwarded since 1931. Reports at all three atolls are taken by the radio operators. The observations at Nukunono and .Fakaofo are made at the villages 011 the western sides of the respective atolls. The time used is Samoan time, which is that of longitude 165° W., 11 hours slow on G-.M.T. Readings show that the temperature of the ocean around the Group shows slight variation—namely, from 81-5° f. to 83° p.—during the year. The relative humidity at the morning observation averages 84 per cent. There is little variation throughout the year. The afternoon humidity averages 76 per cent., with variations from 72 per cent, in September to 81. per cent, in February.

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Station: Nukunono, Tokelau Islands

By Authority: E. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington..— 1949. Price 6d.~\

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Latitude, 9 3 12' 3,; Longitude 171° 55'W. Height above M.S.L., 6 ft. Observations at 0700 hrs. (1800), G.M.T 1948. Air Temperature and Humidity at Extreme Temperature. 1 "3 J Kainfall. Wind Direction : Number of Observation? Observation Hour. Month. >. Means. Extreme Maximum and (H >> 5 3 ps Minimum Range. z* 3 c3 ft pq 3 5 2 $ a cS ft ,0 p g 0 N JSI.kl. E. S.E. S. s.w. w. JSI.W. a 3 A: Max. B : Min. A + B 2 Max. & Min. ft Mean Daily. Ext. *5 o January 80-6 76-6 82 29-3 87-4 77-0 82-2 94-4 16 73-3 1 10-4 21-1 6-7 6-26 2-40 20 16 13 u 2* 1 4 2 2 31 Februarv . . 80-0 76-5 84 29-4 86-9 76-8 81-9 92-1 22 73-4 14 10-1 18-7 8-3 16-04 3-23 12 16 12 1* * 1 ). U 8i4 29 March 80-7 76-8 83 29-7 87-2 76-7 82-0 91-2 11 73-3 15 10-5 17-9 6-4 18-15 2-10 6 21 6i 4* 12* 1* 1 . 1 * 3 31 April 81-1 77-4 84 30-5 88-4 78-3 83-4 92-0 4 75-0 1 10-1 17-0 5-7 5-07 1-20 3 13 4 3* 14 5 1 * 2 30 May 81-9 77-9 83 30-8 89-0 78-6 83-8 92-4 16 76-4 18 10-4 16-0 5-2 4-12 1-51 18 12 4 6 16 2 1 . 2 31 June 81-3 77-8 84 30-7 88-7 77-8 83-3 90-4 22 73-3 5 10-9 17-1 6-2 5-19 1-23 19 19 1* n 14 6 1 30 July 80-1 76-9 86 30-2 86-2 76-8 81-5 90-2 15 73-1 27 9-4 17-1 7-0 12-73 1-96 31 23 2* i 18 8 1 . * 31 August 80-4 76-7 83 29-4 86-8 77-0 81-9 90-2 19 75-0 17 9-8 15-2 6-5 7-56 1-20 1 24 2 i* 19 6* 2 . 31 September .. 79-7 76-1 84 29-2 87-6 76-3 82-0 91-1 19 72-3 26 11-3 18-8 5-8 13-79 3-83 15 21 5+ 4 13* 2 1 4 30 October 80-6 76-5 82 29-3 87-0 76-8 81-9 90-4 3 72-2 29 10-2 18-2 5-7 12-91 2-10 6 20 648 10 & 2 1 3 HI November .. 81-3 77-0 81 29-6 87-6 77-6 82-6 91-3 22 75-1 2.3 10-0 16-2 6-1 6-87 1-93 25 14 9* fih 6 n 1 2 1* 2 30 December .. 81-3 76-8 83 30-4 85-6 76-9 81-2 90-9 26 74-1 13 8-7 16-8 7-6 20-57 4-02 14 15 3 4 i 2 5 12 2 31 Year 80-7 76-9 83 29-9 87-4 77-2 82-3 94-4 72-2 10-2 22-2 6-4 129-26 4-02 214 70 52| 130 35 8 H 15126i 25 366