A.—4.

Moorings had their annual overhaul in September, and are in good order. Channels and Passages. — The channels and passages round Savai'i have had attention, some amount of blasting having been done and marking-pins renewed. Lighterage. —The lighterage Ordinance, 1931, codified the conditions which, had obtained for some years past, and pursuant to its provisions a license was granted to the Apia Stevedoring Co., Ltd., for a term of six years after expiry of their present agreement on 31st May, 1932. Since Ist September the Harbour Department has been conducted on a contract basis between the Administration and the Harbourmaster ; the service has operated with complete smoothness and satisfaction. LABOUR DEPARTMENT. Depressed values for Native produce have made Samoan labour available more consistently and less expensively than hitherto, and, in consequence of this and of the depression itself, there has been a further decrease in the employment of Chinese. An example of this is given in the following particulars of labour employed by the New Zealand Reparation Estates (the largest employers of labour), which indicate the position generally : — January, January, 1931. 1932. Samoans .. .. .. . . • • 182 245 Chinese .. . . .. • ■ • ■ 366 206 Total 548 451 On the Ist April, 1931, there were 917 Chinese labourers in the Territory. In September 404 returned to China by the s.s. " Apoey," and 207 new men arrived by the same vessel. There were 8 deaths during the year, and the total number in the Territory on 31st March, 1932, was 712. There were 121 Melanesian labourers in Samoa at 31st March, 2 having died during the year, and 13 having been returned to their homes. The conduct of labourers has been good. Towards the end of the year a law of 1918 placing restrictions upon intercourse between Samoans and Chinese labourers was re-enacted in the Overseas Labourers Control Ordinance, 1931. In view of the continuing decrease in the numbers of overseas labourers, a general reduction in the Department was effected as from the end of 1931. The Commissioner of Labour was retired after some sixteen years of very commendable service, and his post filled by the Crown Solicitor as an addition to existing duties. Part of the clerical work is carried out similarly by part-time services from another Department, and the only full-time staff now in this Department are the Chinese interpreter and messenger. The number of visits made by labourers to the Commissioner's office on various affairs during the year 1931-32 amounted to 4,878. POSTAL AND RADIO DEPARTMENT. In August, 1931, there was a reduction from five to four in the European staff of the Postal Department, and early in February, 1932, these two communications Departments were combined under the Radio Superintendent, enabling the Postmaster to return to the New Zealand Service. An additional radio trainee was appointed. Quicker despatch is given to the handling of mails as the Radio staff assist on overseas mail days. The post-office was moved into the new building in November. Radio. Net receipts on radio —telegraphic business during the year amounted to £2,463, the number of messages handled being 11,642. The four out-stations and one in the Union Group have given satisfactory service, and, although charges are only 2d. per word, are self-supporting. The privately owned broadcasting station at Apia has been taken over by a local corporation and thirty listeners are licensed within the Territory. Postal. There has been a decrease generally in all transactions, with the exception of sales of stamps, which reflect the increased postage rates effective from Ist March, 1931. There is a further decrease in savings-bank deposits, but not to the extent of that of the preceding year.

Money-orders.

14

, . , I „ „ n . A Postal Notes and British Postal Money-orders issued. Money-orders paid. Orders. Year. — j Number. Commission. Amount. Number. Amount. Issued. Paid. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1931-32 .. .. 1,580 214 11 1 14,997 19 1 239 1,191 4 10 1,529 9 0 66 10 9 1930-31 .. .. 2,020 644 8 0 j 25,860 3 10 242 1,781 8 9 1,178 14 8 126 8 9 I I