A. —4.

XI.—POLICE AND PRISONS. Establishment. The total European strength (including one clerk) was eleven on 31st March, 1936, the same number as at the end of the previous year. Native uniformed strength remained at thirty-six, exclusive of two Native clerks and eleven messengers under control of the Inspector of Police. There are four police posts in the outside districts, three being under the control of_ District Officers, and the fourth, at Tuasivi, Savai'i, under direct control of the Resident Commissioner for Savai'i. Prisons. On the Ist April, 1935, the total number of prisoners was 82. During the year 327 prisoners were admitted and 322 discharged, 87 remaining in custody on 31st March, 1936. General. Statistics for 1935-36 given in the preceding chapter show an increase in crime in the Territory, although it will be observed that the type of case in which this occurs is not very serious. Warrants held for execution on Ist April, 1935, were—For arrest, 3 ; for commitment, 15 ; and on 31st March, 1936, the figures were 1 and 5 respectively. XII.—DEFENCE OF THE TERRITORY. No military forces or defensive bases are maintained in the Territory. XIII.—ARMS AND AMMUNITION. Transactions in firearms and ammunition are controlled by the Arms Ordinance, 1921. There is no suggestion of illicit traffic in Samoa, and the subject is of no special significance. Importations during 1935-36 were as follows :— Arms — Smooth-bore shotguns, 16. Rifles (-22), 3. Ammunition — Shot cartridges, 53,000. Rifle cartridges (-22 calibre), 15,000. Rifle cartridges (-303 calibre), 5,000. All these quantities were imported by private firms, with the exception of 5,000 rounds of -303 calibre rifle cartridges, which were imported by the Administration to replenish police supplies and issue to the Apia Rifle Club. The increase in importations by private firms as compared with 1934-35 is explained by the improved economic position of the Territory, which allows the inhabitants to indulge in game-shooting much more than in the past few years. The following table gives the total of registered firearms in the Territory as at 31st March, 1936 :

XIV.—SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE NATIVES. The social system of the Samoan people is such that poverty cannot exist. All families (or more correctly " clans ") are well endowed with land, and as the soil is very fertile they have little difficulty in growing all food-supplies required. Their wants in the way of clothing are few, and although the lavalava, or kilt, is now of European material, it is for all general purposes the only clothing worn by adult men and children in the ordinary village life, an additional upper garment usually being worn by the women. On formal occasions, more particularly when Europeans are present, the men wear shirts, and in some cases even collars, ties, and jackets. The Samoans are conservative in the matter of housing, in that they have shown no tendency to adopt European ideas as to design and construction, as has been done by other peoples of the Pacific having the same commercial contacts. This is due no doubt to the fact that Samoan Native houses are of particularly good design, being large, well ventilated, and cool. Floors are composed of pebbles, which are covered with mats when required. They have no walls, and are quite open to the air on all sides, resembling a beehive roof of cane thatch raised on posts, but are fitted with heavy blinds of coconut-leaves which when lowered, on the Venetian principle, give full protection from wind and rain. In the matter of housing, as in other directions, the economic aspect has played a part m postponing change, as all materials for a Samoan dwelling are grown by the people on their own land. The Native people are well and suitably housed, and it is in their interests that there be no change.

3—A. 4.

17

European. Samoan. Total. Revolvers .. . • • • 7 • • Rifles . . • • • • 32 .. 32 Shotguns .. .. . • 188 490 678 717