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LABOUR DEPARTMENT. On the Ist April, 1930, there were 953 Chinese labourers in the Territory. In May 288 returned to China by the s.s. " Apoey," and 254 new men arrived by the same vessel. There were four deaths during the course of the year, and two other arrivals early in 1931, so that the total number in the Territory on 31st March, 1931, was 917. Towards the end of the year a certain scarcity of employment for Chinese had developed owing to the cessation of operations on some rubber plantations and general economic conditions. The contemplated arrival of a vessel for Hong Kong in the latter part of 1931 will relieve the position, and in the meantime the Commissioner is doing all possible to find some work for all labourers. There were 136 Melanesian labourers in Samoa at the 31st March, five having been repatriated at their own request and four having died during the year. The general behaviour and conduct of all labour has been good. The number of visits made by labourers to the Commissioner's office on various affairs during the year 1930-31 amounted to 4,009. POLICE AND PRISONS DEPARTMENT. Establishment. In April and May of 1930 eighteen members of the Constabulary resigned or were discharged, their periods of engagement having expired, and the six constables from the New Zealand Police Force who had been added to the Constabulary in February, 1930, were returned to the Dominion. These men were replaced by the enlistment of twenty-three new members. During the course of the year it was found possible to release eight constables for various reasons, and at the end of the year a further six resigned or were discharged, so that the present European strength in all ranks is thirty-seven. The strength of the Native Police Force (exclusive of messengers and clerks) remained at forty throughout the year. The six district police posts in the two principal islands have been maintained, four of them being in wireless communication with Apia ; in addition, a mobile patrol, with headquarters near Apia, has been established, and has been valuable in dealing with offences in any part of the Territory as required. Prisons. The prisons staff, as in previous years, is included in the staff of the Department as outlined above. The total number of prisoners received during the year was 689, and the number discharged 900, a total of 98 being in prison on the 31st March, 1931, as compared with 309 a year previously. The Tuvao Prison was closed during the year, and the proposed transfer to Tafaigata, which is considerably nearer to Apia, was completed. The new prison is well laid out on 90 acres of land, as a future addition to which a further 39 acres have been purchased, and is already producing sufficient Native foods for nearly all Government institutions, as well as bananas for export. The health and general conduct of the prisoners have been good. The number of mental patients on the 31st March, 1931, was five. General. The statistics show a further increase in serious criminal offences. These crimes, however, are quite unconnected with each other and cannot be regarded as associated with or significant of any particular state of affairs. During the early part of the year three fires of incendiary origin occurred, the first being an unsuccessful attempt upon the Native Department Office, the second causing the complete destruction of the Apia Post-office, and the third being unsuccessful attempts at the same time upon a cottage and Native fale at Pesega. The fullest police investigations followed each offence, without disclosing the identity of the culprits. These events followed shortly after what is believed to have been an accidental fire which destroyed a store building belonging to Messrs. Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd. Ordinarily losses of property by fire are of particularly rare occurrence in Samoa. Particulars of warrants dealt with during the year are as follows : — Arreat. Commitment. Number held, 31st March, 1930 .. 252 71 Issued .. .. .. .. .. .. 176 190 Executed .. .. .. .. .. .. 275 175 Number held, 31st March, 1931 153 86

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