9

A.—4

tion Fund, or be absorbed in any other Government Department in the event of their being compelled through service in the tropics affecting their health, or through no fault of their own, to relinquish their appointments here. The remedy would appear to be in the establishment of a permanent service for those tropical islands administered by New Zealand. The longer an official stays in Samoa—providing he is able to keep physically fit —the greater the value of his services to the Administration ; therefore I strongly recommend that the officials of the Samoan Government Service be given a similar permanent status to members of the Civil Service in the Dominion. Legislation. In New Zealand. The, Samoa Act, 1921, was amended during the year ended 31st March, 1924, by the Samoa Amendment Act, 1923. (22nd August, 1923.) The British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Act, 1923 (applied with nece;ssary modifications to Samoa by section 14). The following Orders in Council have been passed during the year ended 31st March, 1924 : — The Samoa Mortgages Extension Order, 1923. (23rd April, 1923.) The Samoa Customs Consolidation Order, 1923. (3rd September, 1923.) The Samoan Legislative; Council (Elective Membership) Order, 1923. (10th September, 1923.) The Samoa Customs Consolidation Amendment Order, 1923. (25th September, 1923). Appointment of Apia as Port of Entry for the Union (Tokelau) Islands. (25th September, 1923.) The Ex-enemy Absentee Property (Samoa) Order, 1923. (24th October, 1923.) Amending the Samoan Crown Estates Order, 1920. (29th October, 1923.) Amending the Samoa Public Trust Office Oreler, 1921. (Ist February, 1924.) The Samoa Immigration Consolidation Order, 1924. (Ist February, 1924.) The Samoa Freemasons' Trustees Order, 1924. (Ist February, 1924.) In Samoa. During the year ending the 31st March, 1924, the Legislative Council sat on four occasions, and has passed the following Ordinances':— 1923. No. 8. The Road Traffic Ordinance Amendment Ordinance;, 1923. No. 9. The Cacao Beans Export Ordinance, 1923. No. 10. The Chinese Free Labour Ordinance, 1923. No. 11. The Sale of Apia Native Land Ordinance, 1923. No. 12. The Samoan Women's Property Ordinance, 1923. No. 13. The Importation of Fruit from Fiji Prohibition Amendment Ordinance, 1923. No. 14. The Samoan Medical Levy Ordinance, 1923. 1924. No. 1. The Land for Quarantine Purposes Ordinance, 1924. No. 2. The Taxation Licensing and Revenue Amendment Ordinance, 1924. Copies of these several Acts, Orders, and Ordinances have been forwarded to the SecrotaryCenoral of the League of Nations and to oach member of the Permanent Mandates Commission. In Great Britain. The following Imperial Order in Council has also had effect in tho Territory during the year : — The Merchant Shipping (Administration in Mandated Territories) No. 1 Order, 1923. (25th May, 1923.) By the Samoa Amendment Act, 1923, provision was made for electivo membership of the Legislative Council in addition to official and nominated members as provided in the original Act. The Samoan Legislative Council (Elective Membership) Order, 1923, provided that the number of elected members should bo three, and also set up the machinery for the carrying-out of elections, as we;ll as defining the qualifications of candidates for election and qualifications of electors. The first election under the Order was held on the 23rd January last, when the following citizens were elected to the Council : 0. F. Nelson, Esq., G. E. W. L. Westbrook, Esq., A. Williams, Esq. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. NATIVE AFFAIRS. During the year two Fonos of Faipules were held, at which many matters of importance to the Samoans were discussed and much valuable, work done. At these Fonos the Faipules evinced a willingness to carry their share of the responsibility in the good government of these islands. The Faipules expressed their desire to proceed immediately with the medical tax as a means of bringing about a more comprehensive warfare against disease, and of educating the Samoans along the lines of hygiene and proper sanitation. The desire for better sanitation in villages was discussed, and plans were accepted for remodelling villages with this end in view. In discussing education tho Faipules were strongly in favour of compulsory education. They volunteered to personally insure this being carried out in their respective districts. The Government's policy of establishing three grades of schools and adopting as far as possible the present system to fit in with the policy was agreed to.

2—A. 4.