A.—4

I.—INTRODUCTORY. The report this year has been altered to bring it more into conformity with the reports supplied to the Council of the League in respect of other mandated territories. An endeavour has been made to group under one heading all references to the same subject, and it is believed the new arrangement of contents will be an advantage. In compiling this report special attention has been given to the matters considered by the Permanent Mandates Commission during the examination, in the course of its twenty-second session, of the report for 1931-32, and in particular to those questions where additional information was requested. In order to facilitate reference an index is given below showing where such information may be found : —

Western Samoa lies between latitudes 13° and 15° south, and longitudes 171° and 173° west, and consists of the two main islands, Savai'i and Upolu, and the smaller islets of Apolima, Manono, Fanuatapu, Namua, Nuutele, Nuulua, and Nuusafee. The Group has a linear disposition in a direction from west-north-west to east-south-east, along which line Savai'i has a length of forty-seven miles, its greatest breadth being twenty-seven miles ; the Apolima Strait occupies about eight miles, and Upolu has a length of forty-seven miles, its greatest breadth being only fifteen miles. All the islands are mountainous, rising to heights of 6,094 ft. in Savai'i and 3,608 ft. in Upolu, the Native population living in villages along the seaboard. The total area is 1,133 square miles. The climate is mild and equable throughout the year. The average temperature during the last ten years has been 79-5° Fahrenheit; the average annual rainfall for the same period was 119-7 in. The Native population is 44,126. The non-Native population is 3,693. lI.—STATUS OF THE TERRITORY. The Territory is administered pursuant to a mandate conferred upon His Britannic Majesty, to be exercised on his behalf by the Government of the Dominion of New Zealand, and confirmed by the Council of the League of Nations on the 17th December, 1920. lII.— STATUS OF THE POPULATION. The status of the Native inhabitants is defined in documents of travel as " British protected persons, Natives of Western Samoa." Pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Council of the League of Nations on the 23rd April, 1923, provision for individual inhabitants of the Territory to voluntarily obtain British naturalization was enacted ; certificates of naturalization have been granted to sixteen Native Samoans, and to fourteen others. IV.—INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. (a) International Conventions. The General International Conventions that have been applied to Western Samoa were described in the report for 1931-32 (page 24). There has been no addition during the year under review. A list of Bi-lateral Agreements extended to the Territory was published in the minutes of the twenty-second session of the Permanent Mandates Commission (page 72), and, similarly, there is no addition to report. (b) Economic Equality. Save as to the protection afforded to Native Samoans in the inalienability of Native land, and their exemption from personal tax, there are no derogations from the principle of economic equality as regards concessions, land-tenure, or direct or indirect taxation ; the question of mining rights does not apply. There is a preference in Customs import duties of 7| per cent, in favour of British goods, but no restrictions as regards countries of origin of goods imported, export trade, or shipping. Immigration is governed by the Samoa Immigration Order, 1930.

2

Minutes of Twenty-second Kenort for WS2 <n Session, Permanent Report, lor L\*6£-A6. Subject. Mandates Commission. Page. Chapter. Page. Anthropological and botanical research .. .. .. .. 77 XIV 12 Banana trade.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 75, 76, 368 IX 9 Conventions and treaties .. .. .. .. .. 72, 75, 313 IV 2 Form of annual reports .. . . . . .. .. 75, 78 12 Infant-mortality .. .. .. .. .. .. 78, 368 XIX 16 Justice .. .. . . . . .. .. .. 73-75, 368 V 3 Labour .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 77 XV 12 Medical work of missions .. .. .. .. .. 78 XIX 16 Native medical practitioners . . .. ., .. .. 78 XIX 16 Schools statistics .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 XVII 13 Yaws .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 78, 368 XIX 15