27

A.—4a

WESTERN SAMOA. SUPPLEMENT TO REPOET TO LEAGUE OE NATIONS For Period Ist April, 1921, to 31st March, 1922. QUESTIONNAIRE. The Special Mandates Commission of the League of Nations prepared and forwarded to the several Mandatories a special questionnaire to assist the latter in the preparation of their reports and to ensure to the former the full information on all vital matters connected with the administration of each Territory. This questionnaire did not reach the New Zealand Government until, after its first report had been prepared. The questionnaire and the answers are therefore now attached to the Second Report. The questions in the questionnaire are answered as follows : — I. SLAVERY. (a.) 1. What, measures are being taken with a view to ensuring the suppression of the slave trade ? No slave trade exists. 2. What results have been obtained ? (b.) 1. Is slavery recognized legally ? No. 2. Does domestic or other slaverq still exist ? Give statistics. No. 3. What are the principal causes of slavery (gambling, drink &c.) ,? 4. Is the pledging of a person recognized legally ? No. 5. Under what conditions can a slave, get his freedom ? 6. What measures have been taken, or are being taken, to provide for the emancipation of slaves and to put an end to all slavery, domestic or otherwise . No measure necessary. 7. Is there any time-limit fixed, for the emancipation of slaves ? If in the affirmative — how long is the period ? 11. LABOUR. (a.) 1. Have measures been ialcen to ensure, in accordance with Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles', the taking into consideration of conventions or recommendations of International Labour Conferences ? These conventions or recommendations have no application in the Territory. 2. Are these conventions or recommendations being carried into effect, ? They do not apply. 3. By what other provisions is free labour protected ? The labour has the same'protection that similar labour enjoys in the Dominion of New Zealand. (b.) 1. What are the measures intended to ensure the prohibition of forced labour for purposes other than essential public works and services, and what are the effective results of these measures ? No measures are necessary. 2. For what 2>ublic services is forced native labour required . How is this regulated ? None. 3. Are there any other forms of forced labour, such as labour in lieu of taxation, maintenance of highways, &c. ? If in the affirmative, how are these regulated ? No labour in lieu of taxes. As to maintenance of highways, weeding and keeping clean roads and streets is required of all landowners, Native and non-Native. Suppression of rhinoceros-beetle by collection of beetles, larvai, and eggs is required of all male Natives, who own most of the coconut-palms, and of all other owners of plantations, and of employers of labour. A copy of the relative Ordinance has already been forwarded to the League of Nations. (c.) 1. How is the recruiting of labour required by private enterprise organized and regulated? Does the Administration participate in this recruiting ? There is no recruiting of Samoans for definite periods under contract, and no organization exists. Native Samoans are employed as day labourers by private enterprise and by the Administration, but they do not form a satisfactory source of labour. Samoans are encouraged to take contracts for roadmaking, &c, and some small works have been executed by this system. 2. Does the Administration allow recruiting in the mandated area of labour for another territory ? If so, under what conditions . No.