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The Administration have been in communication with the Bishop Museum of Hawaii as to the availability of reports on researches carried out in Western Samoa by Dr. Christophersorj and Mr. G. McGregor of the Museum organization, but are informed that it will be several months before the reports of these gentlemen are published. The likelihood of their being of interest to the Permanent Mandates Commission, as well as to the Administration, will be kept in view. XV.—LABOUR. Engagement by Samoans in regular employment for wages is quite extraneous to the style of living of the bulk of the Native population ; and, as economic conditions leave the people completely free of need for such employment, there is no codification of conditions. Plantation work, when availed of, is usually arranged by contract with the head of a family under terms which return from Is. 6d. to 2s. per day per head of those engaged. The work is not over arduous, being mainly weeding or cutting of copra, and the total number of Samoans so employed at any one time would probably not exceed four hundred. These conditions apply to the Reparation Estates equally with other plantations, but, as already stated, there is no economic compulsion on Native Samoans to accept them. There was a further repatriation of Chinese labourers during the year, the number remaining on 31st March, 1933, being 636. The conduct of these labourers has been good ; the number of visits by labourers to the Commissioner's office numbered 3,518, as compared with 4,878 in 1931-32. Service is still contracted for periods of three years, but a minority of labourers of good record are permitted to re-engage. Excluding some forty-seven men who arrived prior to 1914, and for whom advancing age would render repatriation a hardship, but including a small number of early arrivals who have remained for a considerable period, the average length of service of the labourers now in Samoa is five and a half years. There were 119 Melanesian labourers on 31st March, 1933, all in the employ of the New Zealand Reparation Estates. The primary purpose of the Chinese Benevolent Fund (contributed by the labourers) is to meet the cost of medical treatment of labourers ; it is never of sufficient amount to do this, and consequently the labourers do not contribute to anything else. The Overhead Fund (contributed by employers) is quite distinct —it meets the balance of medical expenses and all other costs. XVI.—FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE. All Samoans profess Christianity. There is complete freedom of conscience, and Article sof the mandate is observed entirely. Mission work in education is referred to in the next succeeding chapter of this report, and in health services in Chapter XIX. XVII.—EDUCATION. The general scheme of progressive education is as follows : — Grade I Schools ( Village, Pastor, or (Jalechisl Schools — Missions). London Methodist Seventh Day Latter Bay Roman Mission (80) Adventist Saints Catholic (175) (Nil) (20) (71) tirade II Schools (Missions and Administration). Village Administration Sisters Schools. schools I (2) Training school (35) (3) (!) I Vaipouli Malifa Intermediate I I Avole Senior Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident colleges colleges colleges colleges colleges in Ifi (European). (3). (4) (2) (2) (11) Day schools Day schools Special day (2).(2). schools (all grades) (2). Mission Schools. Grade I Schools (for Boys and Girls).— These are the village schools taught by Native pastors or catechists, who are trained and provided by the missions concerned. The majority of these teachers receive regular refresher courses of instruction from the Administration. Girls' Schools (Resident) .—The girls of these schools are prepared for the higher standard of village life. The majority marry soon after leaving school, and in this way the whole of Samoan life is being influenced. Their Christian education is specially stressed. One new school has been established since last report. Boys , Schools (Resident).— These can be regarded as colleges where the boys are prepared for useful work in the missions as pastors or teachers, or as artisans. Girls' Schools (Day). —These schools are found in the centres of population, and meet the needs of pupils desiring further education. Music, sewing, typewriting, and shorthand form a special part of the syllabus of instruction in some schools.

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