A.—4

Postal and Radio. There have been four overseas mails, both inward and outward, each four weeks, providing three connections with New Zealand, two each with Fiji and European and American countries, and one with Australia. The volume of mail-matter was maintained, but postal revenue declined by reason of penny postage having been resumed on the Ist June, 1932. There was a large increase in the value of money-orders paid at Apia (from £1,191 in 1931-32 to £8,796), mainly through exchange favouring remittances from American Samoa. In other business there were slight decreases. For the first time since 1927-28 deposits in the Post Office Savings-bank exceeded withdrawals, the amount held on 31st March, 1933, being £38,934 4s. 4d. at credit of 1,575 depositors, an increase (with interest £1,245 3s. 5d.) of £4,006 13s. 9d. Radio traffic showed a further decline, the number of messages handled and receipts having been 9,600 and £2,054, as compared with 11,642 and £2,463 respectively in 1931-32. This was due to an increasing number of other island stations becoming proficient to work direct instead of by relay through Apia Radio, coupled with a general practice of economy. The combining of the postal and radio staffs continues to function very smoothly. The privately-owned local broadcasting service was discontinued as from 31st March, 1933. Lands and Survey. The services of this Department remained of routine nature. Progress was made on a draft of survey regulations for issue under the Land Surveys Regulation Ordinance, 1922, and the Building Alignment Ordinance, 1932, provided for general rather than limited application of this principle. The usual surveys were made for proceedings of the Land and Titles Commission. At the conclusion of furlough in New Zealand the Chief Surveyor was attached temporarily to the New Zealand Lands and Survey Department for some two and a half months in order to gain further experience of New Zealand methods. Public Trust Office. This Department was instituted in 1921, and is under the control of the Treasurer and Collector of Customs, who is also Public Trustee and Official Assignee. The office is self-supporting ; income for 1932-33 was £1,216, and expenditure £804. Funds invested amount to £13,146, and there is an Office reserve of £450. Port and Harbour Services. Pilotage and harbour services, and maintenance of lights, beacons, and plant, continued to function very satisfactorily under contract with the Harbourmaster. There was no new work or serious accident to shipping during the year. The Port Control Ordinance, 1932, consolidated a number of earlier measures with introduced provisions as to port regulations, fumigation, and survey and licensing of local shipping and seamen. In February, 1933, two tourist vessels, the " Carinthia," a Cunard liner of 19,000 tons, and the " Stella Polaris," visited the port.

Staff. Particulars are given in the following table, as at 31st March for each year : —

4

, European, Native Samoans. Services. 1932. 1933. 1932. 1933. 1932. 1933. Classified departmental staffs — Education .. . . . . .. 5 5 6 6 85 77 Health 16 16 2 2 57 55 Native Affairs (including Savai'i) .. 6 6 1 1 12 12 Police and Prisons .. .... 21 15 1 1 53 52 Other services 28 26 16 17 28 18 76 68 26 27 235 214 Part-time officials, Native administration . . 1 .. . ■ • • 189 190 Casual employees .. .. .. • • • • 1 16 27 40 New Zealand Reparation Estates staff . . 17 19 12 7 2 4 Totals .. .. 94 87 39 50 453 448