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9. MEDICAL RESEARCH The Department is paying considerable attention to medical research in the island territories, and in this connection is closely associated with the Medical Research Council of New Zealand. A medical expedition was sent by the Council to Western Samoa late in 1948, and at the end of 1949 a team headed by Sir Charles Hercus, Dean of the Otago Medical School, visited the Cook Islands, financial responsibility for the visits being undertaken by the Department. In the light of the experience of the Samoan expedition of the previous year, it was decided that a general survey be carried out on a representative sample of families from a typical village with a view to assessing the state of health of both the family as a unit and the individual members of the family, and to correlate these findings with the elements of the home environment of hygienic importance. In addition, specific research was instituted on the vectors of filariasis and the residual effects of D.D.T. spraying as a control measure in the houses of the villagers. The work was completed by the beginning of February, 1950, and described in a comprehensive report which will serve as an invaluable basis for future medical work in the Group. These initial efforts have served to point out the important role to be played by medical research in improving the technique of approach to daily medical problems in the Pacific territories for which New Zealand is responsible, and consequently consideration is being given to organizing medical research on a continuing basis. At the same time, the work in the Pacific field of the Research Council of the South Pacific Commission is being closely observed, and it is anticipated that a growing contribution to medical research with application to our territories will be made by this organization. 10. SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME In order to make available to the island dependencies the benefits of higher education, a scholarship scheme was introduced in 1945 enabling a few of the best pupils to be selected for primary and post-primary education in New Zealand. Despite certain anticipated difficulties, the scheme has functioned very well and is producing an excellent type of young person well suited for service in the islands. To date there has been no difficulty connected with the return of these pupils to the islands ; indeed, they are keen to go back and assist their fellow-islanders to advance as rapidly as possible. The following tables show particulars of students who have been brought to New Zealand under this scheme :

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Year. From Western Samoa. Cook Islands. Nine: Totals. Boys. Girls. Total. Boys. (xirls Total Boys. Boys. j Girls. | Total. 1945 .. 1946 .. 1947 .. 1948 .. 1949 .. 1950 .. 11 9 5 4 7 6 3 4 2 3 3 4 14 13 7 7 10 10 4 3 3 2 4 1 1 1 5 4 3 3 4 2 2 2 2 11 13 10 9 11 12 3 5 3 3 4 4 14 18 13 12 15 16 42 19 61 16 3 19 8 66 22 88 Disposals — To University or training college In employment in New Zealand for practical training Returned to the Islands — (a) For employment (b) For medical reasons 2 9 1 1 2 2 1 4 11 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 9 3 3 2 2 1 5 11 4 3 13 5 18 4 4 1 18 5 23 Still at school, 31st March, 1950 .. 29 14 43 12 3 15 7 48 17 65