A —4

There are 14 district administrations —8 on Upolu and 6on Savai'i. The fa'amasino, pulefa'atoaga, and leoleo for each district are nominated by the Fono of Faipnle and formally appointed by the Administration. The administrative appointments are, of course, part-time only and the appointees are able to follow their normal avocations. The pulenu'u is the Administration representative in each village and is nominated by the vote of the chiefs and orators and confirmed in his office by the Administration. He may be relieved of his appointment at any time by request of the village if proper reasons are advanced, but normally he continues in office for a period of three years. The pulenu'u co-operates with the ruling body of chiefs and orators in his village and is responsible for promulgating and enforcing the laws of the Government in such matters as registration of births and deaths, village cleanliness and order, control of live-stock, and burial of the dead. His duties also include the reporting of breaches of the peace to the District Judge, and co-operation with the women's committee (see Health Department) and the village school-teacher. Judicial Organization The Justice Department is responsible for the administrative aspect of the Judiciary. The Crown Solicitor advises the Administration on legal matters and represents it before the High Court. He also holds the offices of Commissioner of Labour, Public Trustee, Registrar of Land, and Official Assignee. The Samoa Act, 1921., prescribes the Judiciary for Western Samoa. At the present time there are a Chief Judge, four Commissioners of the High Court, three Native Associate Judges, and fourteen Samoan Judges in charge of district Courts. The Samoan Associate Judges of the High Court are appointed following nominations by the Fono of Faipule and hold office for three years. Originally they held Courts in Apia to deal with minor Samoan offenders, but to-day it is the practice to have all the cases at Apia tried by one of the Commissioners or by the Chief Judge. These Samoan Judges, therefore, who have jurisdiction pursuant to section 67 of the Samoa Act, sit on the bench in an associate capacity. In cases where the defendant is a Samoan they may take a very active part in the proceedings, such as questioning witnesses and helping to frame a just verdict. Where the defendant is a European they may possibly be present, but they take no part in the decision. The official language is English, but the Samoan language is used where necessary. A system of assessors somewhat equivalent to a jury system is provided for more serious criminal cases. The Court appoints four assessors from a standing panel nominated by the High Commissioner and consisting of both Europeans and Samoans nearly all of the latter being Judges or ex-Judges. In cases where the defendant is a Samoan, it is the current practice to name one Samoan assessor among the four. Where assessors are used, the verdict requires the concurrence of at least three of the assessors. Two qualified barristers and solicitors are in private practice in Apia and handle cases before the High Court. A right of rehearing equivalent in practice to an appeal is allowed from decisions of the Samoan Judges to the Commissioners and on to the Chief Judge. An appeal is also allowed, under certain conditions, from the High Court to the Supreme Court of New Zealand, but only a few such appeals to the Supreme Court have ever been made, and none since 1934. Under the Native Land and Titles Protection Ordinance 1934, a special judicial body called the Native Land and Titles Court has been created. The Chief Judge is the President of this Court and is assisted by two European assessors well versed in Samoan

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