A.—4A

4

FOOD AND DRUGS. The New Zealand Food and Drugs Act, 1908, with its regulations, is in force in Western Samoa. During the year the following foodstuffs were condemned and destroyed under the supervision of the Health Officer : Meat in kegs, 6401b. ; frozen meat, 1,011 lb. ; canned meat, 7901b. ; fish, 201b. ; fruit, 145 lb. During the year under review 2,606 lb. of foodstuffs were condemned and destroyed, as against 1,827 lb. in 1927. Seven samples of milk were taken for examination by the Government Analyst for comparison with standard formulation under the above Act. Three failed to pass the test. There are twenty bakers, eight restaurant-keepers, and four butchers holding licenses to trade under the above Act. A large new building, 50 ft. by 70 ft., has recently been erected for the purpose of a public market, where foodstuffs are being sold. It is built of steel frame, iron roof, and concrete floor sloping to gully-traps and drained to sea, with high-pressure water installed for hosing the floor and other purposes. There are fifty stalls, and the whole building is electrically lighted. This building was erected by private enterprise, and complies with the Board of Health Regulations. SANITATION. (a) European. —105 permits were issued under the Board of Health Regulations; 18 drainage and plumbing plans examined, 5 being altered to comply with the above regulations ; septic tanks constructed, 13 ; water-closets installed, 17 ; sinks installed, 30 ; cast-iron baths installed, 5 ; basins installed, 13; grease-traps installed, 1; drainage, 933 ft. Two drainage systems were drained direct into the sea. During the year under review 81 sanitary fittings were installed and 933 ft. of drainage, as against 76 sanitary fittings installed and 1,426 ft. of drainage in 1927. Number of loads of rubbish removed to the dump, 1,260. (b) Native Sanitation.—lnspections for the year, 2,511 ; nuisances discovered and rectified, 701. MOTION-PICTURE OUTFIT. The Department has a portable motion-picture outfit that is used for propaganda purposes in connection with sanitation and tropical diseases. The films used are mostly educational, such as "Life-history of the Fly" (1,000 ft.), "Life-history of the Mosquito" (1,000 ft.), "Unhooking the Hookworm " (1,000 ft.), and several other films supplied by the Government Publicity Officer, Wellington, depicting New Zealand scenery and industries. They are very interesting and instructive. The Natives in the various villages visited turn up in large numbers to see the pictures, some of them having never seen a motion picture before. Owing to a defective engine the outfit at present in use is being replaced by a new one of English manufacture. CHILD WELFARE. During the Administrator's malagas it was found that three women's committees were still functioning to some extent in Upolu, and one in Savai'i. These three committees in Upolu are all working on the south side of the island, and are doing what they can to promote child welfare, but even then they are much hampered in their work by members of the Mau organization. It will be a long time before the child-welfare scheme can be properly set going again, as, like all matters concerning the health of Natives, it absolutely demands their co-operation. VITAL STATISTICS (SAMOAN). These are calculated for the calendar year 1928. The total Native population on the Ist January, 1928, was estimated to be 39,215. The reduction shown in the birth and death rates is believed to be due to non-registration, and the figures in both cases are far too low to be of any statistical value. Native Population, Western Samoa. Males. Females. Total. At Ist January, 1928 .. .. .. .. 19,942 19,273 39,215 Live births during 1928. . . . .. .. 453 410 863 Arrivals from overseas .. .. .. .. 706 544 1,250 Deaths during 1928 .. .. .. .. 114 105 219 Departures for overseas.. .. .. .. 685 546 1,231 Population at 31st December, 1928 (estimated) .. 20,302 19,576 39,878 Natural increase .. .. .. .. 339 305 644 Excess of arrivals over departures .. .. 21 —2 19 Total increase in population .. .. .. 360 303 663 The percentage increase in population during 1928 according to these figures was 1-67, as compared with 3-18 in 1927 and 3-58 in 1926. The arrivals and departures will be found to balance each other over a period of years. Births. The births of 863 living children were registered during 1928, giving a birth-rate per 1,000 of midyear population of 21-82. For 1927 and 1926 the figures were 1,636 and 1,965, the birth-rate being 42-37 and 52-62 respectively. The falling-off in the number of births this year is believed to be due to non-registration, as it is difficult to find any other cause. The year 1928 was a prosperous one, and the Native unrest obviously had no bearing on actual births and deaths. As will be seen from the above