A.—3

In December, 1943, the Samoan Administration made available a Samoan Native Medical Practitioner on loan for a period of two years. Two Niuean medical trainees who were sent to the Central Medical School in Suva in 1942 and in 1943 had to be returned without completing their studies owing to lack of satisfactory progress or poor health. Two Niuean boys are now attending the Wanganui Technical College at the cost of Government with the purpose of qualifying at least one of them for admission to the Suva Medical School. There were outbreaks of endemic influenza in July and October, 1942, and a number of cases of ' typhoid during the same year. The typhoid, however, was restricted to three villages. Further typhoid . occurred in the first half of 1943. A more serious visitation was a virulent and widespread form of mixed influenza, which continued sporadically from June, 1943, until June, 1944. There were 2,351 cases, and 129 deaths. The first ' cases occurred twelve days after the most recent visit of a vessel. It had arrived free of infection from Apia, where no epidemic occurred. Infectious jaundice also became common during 1944. There were 78 cases and 25 deaths. Education The work of this Department is in charge of a Headmaster from New Zealand, assisted by 56 Niuean teachers and trainees. The Administration maintains three schools, and also pays a subsidy of £500 per annum to the local London Missionary Society, which has nine smaller schools in villages where there are no Government schools.

Roll Numbers

Judicial Organization The Cook Islands Act, 1915, prescribes the judiciary for the Cook Islands, including Niue. At Niue the Resident Commissioner is Judge of the High Court and the Native Land Court, and another officer is a Commissioner of both Courts. The following proceedings were dealt with for the period under review :—

High Court

Offences are usually of a comparatively minor nature. During 1941, however, a temporary series of burglaries, combined in two cases with arson, made it advisable to transfer six prisoners to Western Samoa to serve their sentences there. The Native Land Court commenced operations in 1941. Owing to the need for services of officers on war work there were no sittings in 1943 and 1944. The Court has now been re-established.

Population The following table shows changes in population since the last census in 1936: —

15

1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. Administration schools .. .. .. .. 656 740 778 686 London Missionary Society schools .. .. 363 370 388 427 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,019 1,110 1,166 1,113

1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. Criminal convictions .. .. .. .. 760 593 539 566 Civil judgments .. .. .. .. .. 2 6 1 3 Divorces granted .. .. .. .. 7 9 12 7

Births. Deaths. Arrivals. Departures. Population as at x .list Decernber. Year. M. F. Total. M. F. Total. M. F. Total. M. F. Total. M, F. Total. 1936 .. 76 64 140 34 40 74 10 9 19 29 19 48 2,000 2,121 4,121 1937 .. 77 75 152 36 44 80 49 41 90 37 31 68 2,053 2,162 4,215 1938 .. 83 69 152 37 52 89 64 49 113 65 50 115 2,098 2,178 4,276 1939 .. 89 59 148 41 36 77 24 19 43 62 43 105 2,108 2,177 4,285 1940 .. 77 69 146 25 34 59 51 39 90 23 15 38 2,188 2,236 4,424 1941 .. 75 76 151 40 37 77 11 7 18 36 12 48 2,198 2,270 4,4681942 .. 70 69 139 37 55 92 18 7 25 73 33 106 2,176 2,258 4,434 1943 .. 78 76 154 90 95 185 27 15 42 161 42 203 2,030 2,212 4 242 1944 .. 63 55 118 70 88 158 52 18 70 51 21 72 2,024 2,176 4 200