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Status oe Inhabitants The Native people of Western Samoa are described in documents of travel as- " British protected persons, Natives of the Territory of Western Samoa," but, at the request of the Samoans themselves, arrangements are in hand to amend this to read " New Zealand protected persons, Natives of the Territory of Western Samoa." The non-indigenous inhabitants of the Territory retain their own nationality and citizenship. Under the provisions of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Act, 1928, however, individual inhabitants of the Territory may apply for British naturalization. As at 31st March, 1948, certificates of naturalization have been granted to 50 Native Samoans and to 82 inhabitants of European status, including children in both cases. The people of the Territory enjoy in New Zealand and its dependencies the same guarantee as regards the protection of their persons and property as that extended tothe inhabitants of New Zealand and dependencies. Immigrant communities are granted a full share of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship without, however, losing their original national status. There is no civil register in the Territory. The registration of births and deaths, however, is compulsory. For the Samoan population the vital statistics are collected by the pulenu'u or headmen of the different villages and are collated in the Samoan Affairs Department. The Postmaster is the Registrar of Births and Deaths for the European and part-European population. C. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL RELATIONS International Conventions The following is a list of the general international conventions that have been, applied to Western Samoa : Residence — 24th July, 1923, Lausanne : Convention between the British Empire, France,Italy, &c., and Turkey, respecting Conditions of Residence and Business and Jurisdiction. Transit — 9th December, 1923, Geneva : Convention and Statute on the International Regime of Maritime Ports and Protocol of Signature. 9th December, 1923, Geneva : Convention relating to the Transmission in Transit of Electric Power, and Protocol of Signature. 9th December, 1923, Geneva : Convention relating to the Development of Hydraulic Power affecting more than one State, and Protocol of Signature. 9th December, 1923, Geneva : Convention and Statute on the International Regime of Railways, and Protocol of Signature. 12th October, 1929, Warsaw : Convention for the Unification of certain Rules relating to International Carriage by Air. Commerce, Navigation, and Customs—3rd November, 1923, Geneva: International Convention relating to the Simplification of Customs Formalities. 9th December, 1923, Geneva : Convention and Statute on the International Regime of Maritime Ports, and Protocol of Signature. sth July, 1930, London : International Load-line Convention. Economic'— 6th November, 1925, The Hague : International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. 26th September, 1927, Geneva : Convention on the Execution of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

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