A.—4

12

Dysentery. An epidemic of dysentery, of which the causative organism was proved to be B Dysenteriaj (Shiga), was experienced during the year. The epidemic reached its maximum in July, and altogether was responsible for between four hundred and five hundred deaths. Dysentery is endemic in Samoa, but occasionally becomes epidemic, as occurred in 1907 and 1911, in both of which years it was responsible; for an actual decrease in the population. The births and deaths for the years mentioned are : — Mean Births. Deaths. Population. 1907 .. .. .. 33,442 1,389 1,564 1911 .. .. .. 33,826 1,453 1,827 1923 .. .. .. 33,685 1,701 1,398 Leprosy. Five cases of leprosy wore reported during the year. These patients will be removed to the Mokagai Leper Asylum, Fiji, shortly, so that they may receive tho benefit of the modern methods of treatment practised there. APIA HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL OUT-STATIONS. Apia Hospital— General attendances .. . . .. . . 37,279 European in-patients . . .. . . .. 184 Samoan in-patients . . . . .. .. 663 Chinese in-patients.. .. .. .. .. 512 - Operations, major .. .. .. _.. .. 225 Operations, minor .. .. .. .. .. 270 Chinese out-patients .. .. .. ..'].,320 Tuasivi District Hospital (nine months' returns) — General attendances .. .. .. .. 16,038 Samoan in-patients .. .. .. . . 151 All the dispensaries mentioned in last year's report were opened at various times throughout tho year, but as the returns are for incomplete periods they have not been included. The District Hospital at Aleipata was not opened until the end of the year under review, owing to delay in completion of the buildings. Note.—The figures for hospital attendances given above include 16,312 injections for yaws and 4,221 treatments for hookworm. In addition to these, 16,054 injections for yaws and 14,236 treatments for hookworm were given in outlying districts, making a total of 32,366 injections for yaws and 18,457 treatments for hookworm given during the year. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. In former years education in Samoa was almost entirely in the hands of the missions, which have done splendid work in teaching practically every Native to read and write in the vernacular. As a consequence the Samoan race is probably the best educated of the Polynesian races. Formerly higher education was not attempted except for the training of pastors, whose duty includes that of teaching in the village schools connected with, their respective Churches. Latterly higher education has been carried out by the Government schools at Malifa and Vaipouli, and by the Marist Brothers at Apia. Higher education for girls has been given at Papauta (London Missionary Society), Faleula (Methodist), and Marist Sisters' School, Apia. The popularity of this higher education to many Native boys and girls has caused many requests to be made by the Natives for the establishing of Government schools in various parts of Samoa. These requests were made without regard to cost, and, more important still, without regard to the present and future occupational needs and opportunities in these undeveloped lands. Outside of Apia, with the exception of the pastors and Native officials, tho Natives are obliged to work on their plantations to produce food for their families, and to produce copra for the acquiring of money with which to furnish their individual and communal needs. It was necessary, therefore, to define clearly our policy in regard to the education of the Natives. There was a tendency in the past to set up an expensive system which would overeducatc, disturb their social conditions, and cause unrest. The present low rate of natural increase of the Samoan race, together with their communistic mode of life and the collective ownership of land, very large areas of which are still undeveloped, will keep the Samoans in a backward condition for many years to come, and it would be unwise to force the pace too quickly. The education policy of Samoa, therefore, should not aim too high. It should not educate the Samoan children too much in advance of their surroundings and social conditions, but should have for its object the making of good citizens, inspired with a love for their country and a determination to work for its advancement. A conference on education was held in August last, at which representatives from all the missions were present, as also was Mr. J. Caughley, Director of Education, New Zealand, who happened to be on an inspection visit to Samoa. The conference decided that it would be in the interests of the Samoans themselves if the teaching of English were curtailed at present. Europeanizing the Natives was unanimously condemned. It was considered that by concentrating in the main on instruction in the vernacular a better influence would prevail. It is not intended to give less knowledge to the Samoans, but a more comprehensive syllabus in their own language will be attempted.