A.—4
QUESTIONNAIRE. The information supplied under this heading in previous reports applies, with the exceptions set out below: — LABOUR. The Hours for Shops Ordinance, 1921, has been replaced by the Shopping Hours Ordinance, 1931. The number of Melanesian plantation labourers in the Territory is 121 at 31st March, 1932, and the number in each year will be found in the respective report of the Labour Department. ARMS TRAFFIC. The importations of arms and ammunition during the year 1931-32 were considerably less than is usual owing to unsold stocks being held by local vendors : — Arms— Smooth-bore shot-guns : 16-gauge, 2. Rifles : -22 calibre, 2. A mmunition — Shot cartridges : 12 gauge, 9,000 ; 16 gauge, 14,000 ; 20 gauge, 6,000 ; 24 gauge, 500 : total, 29,500. Ball cartridges : -32 calibre, 300 rounds. Sporting gunpowder, 100 lb. ; percussion caps, 7,000. Fireworks, 28 cases. This return does not include arms and ammunition included in police equipment or in police custody. TRADE AND MANUFACTURE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. (Information as requested by the Permanent Mandates Commission in its Report of its Twenty-first Session.) A. There have been no changes in legislation during the year, except that by the Samoa Customs Consolidation Amendment Order, 1931, and the Samoa Port and Customs Service Tax Amendment Order, 1931, as from Ist January, 1932, the ad valorem rate of import duty chargeable on liquor imported by the Administration for sale for medicinal and industrial purposes was increased by 2J per cent., and the Port and Customs Service Tax upon. liquor for medicinal, industrial, and sacramental purposes was increased by 2| per cent. B. The numbers of persons arrested and sentenced for breaches of the laws and regulations relating to liquor are given in the judicial statistics at page 10. C. Imports of spirits and alcoholic beverages during the year 1931-32 : —
For sacramental purposes, 116 gallons of wine ; for industrial purposes, 46 gallons rectified spirits of wine.
22
Quantities issued under Average Approxi- Quantity Medical Permits. mate Percentage of imported, Countries of Origin. Alcohol by Weight. 1931-32. j iggo_3i 1931-32 I Spirituous liquors —- - Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Whisky . . .. 38-5 to 51-0 586 599 726| United Kingdom. Brandy .. .. 38-5 to 49-3 150 97 !>5i France. ; Grin . . .. 40-6 476 201 230§ United Kingdom and Holland. Alcoholic beverages — Port and sherry .. 12-0 to 17-8 234 176§ 248J .. Claret .. .. 5-5 to 10-0 30 15J. 21 j 1 Australia. Stout .. .. 5-5 736 686 666-| 1 Australia and Ale .. .. 3-75* 2,416 2,338| / United Kingdom. Champagne .. 7-5 to 10-6 2 2|- 3| France. * Note. —This figure has been inserted as indicating the maximum percentage of alcohol. The greater proportion of the liquor issued under this heading, however, contains under 3 per cent, of alcohol.