7

A.—4

2. Regulation of Imports and Exports. —The importation of opium in a form suitable for smoking was during the year under review entirely prohibited, and that of opium in a form which may be made suitable for smoking was subject to the " imports certificate " system. There was only one importer apart from the Government, and quantities imported were negligible. 3. Internal Regulation of the Manufacture, Sale, Distribution, Use, &c, of the Drug. —There is no general prevalence of the drug habit. Isolated instances occur among Chinese indent tired labourers. There is a small illicit traffic with Fiji, where raw opium is believed to be obtainable by illicit purchase from Indians. One European was convicted of smuggling, and fined £50. 4. Particular Drugs: Raw Opium.- (a) Not produced in the Territory; (6) none imported; (c) none imported ; (d) none imported ; (c) none exported. 5. Prepared Opium- The. import, manufacture, and use is prohibited. There has never been any smoking among the national population. Among the alien population the Chinese only are addicted to smoking, and that in isolated cases only. There were six convictions for being unlawfully in possession of opium. All the offenders were Chinese. Fines from £1 to £50 were inflicted. Effectual co-operation with Fiji continues. 6. Morphine. —No imports, manufacture, or exports. 7. Heroin. —No imports, manufacture, or exports. 8. Medicinal Opium. —Medicinal opium is imported by the Administration for use in the Public Hospital by its medical officers. There is only one other importer, a local chemist, and the amount of medicinal opium imported by him was negligible. 9. Cocaine. —No imports, manufacture, or exports. 10. Other Drugs. —No imports, manufacture, or exports. 11-14. Miscellaneous. There is nothing to communicate under these heads. EDUCATION. Government Schools. There has been a very large increase in the number of pupils attending the Government schools during the past year, as the following table will show : —

Subjects of Instruction. —At Ifi Ifi School (for white and half-caste children) the subjects of instruction have remained much the same as during the previous year, excepting that less time has been devoted to drawing and music and more time given to English and arithmetic. It may be unfortunate that more time cannot be allotted to handwork and nature-study, but the struggle with pjnglish demands extra time and attention. At Malifa School (for Native children) there is still greater need for more time and attention to be given to English, and during the past year it was deemed advisable to curtail the syllabus of instruction in the other subjects of the curriculum to enable the teachers to devote greater attention to this all-important subject so far as Native children are concerned. At Malifa School also an endeavour is being made to foster Samoan handicraft, and instruction is now being given in basketmaking and mat-weaving. With this end in view the services of a Native expert weaver and basketmaker have, been secured. Proficiency Examination.- —Fifteen pupils presented themselves for this examination, the, principal papers for which were set in New Zealand. Of this number thirteen passed with proficiency, one with competency, whilst only one failed. Scholarship Boys at St. Stephen's School, Auckland. —The reports received from the headmaster of St. Stephen's School on the work of the four Samoan scholarship boys are most encouraging. Two more, scholarship boys from the mission schools wore sent up to St Stephen's School in February last. Continuation Classes. —In order to meet the desire of students who are at work during the day, continuation classes to prepare candidates for the Proficiency Examination were held in the afternoons from 4to 6 p.m. during the year. These classes were well supported by ambitious pupils, chiefly from offices in Apia. Five of these pupils sat for the Proficiency Examination, of whom four were successful in passing. Secondary Classes. —Secondary classes have now been established at Ifi Ifi for the benefit of those pupils who have passed the Proficiency Examination and who desire to further their education. The work in these classes is practically on the lines of a junior high school in New Zealand. Commercial Classes. —Classes in typewriting and shorthand have been commenced both at Ifi Ifi School and at Malifa. Tuition is given by two local pupil-teachers who have undergone a course of training.

Number on Roll at Ifi Ifl School. Boys. Girls. Malifa School. Vaipouli School. Ten ;al Grand Hotel. Boys Girls. Boys only. Boys. Girls. J -1st March, 1923 -1st March, 1922 Increase during year 112 108 180 63 84 376 172 171 124 547 296 204 47 251