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Samoans will engage for labour under contract involving absence from their villages for a few days or weeks, but will not work consistently for longer periods. Tokelau-Islanders can, however, be relied upon as permanent labourers, and about fifty of these are now being used in place of Chinese. This number will probably increase every year, owing to the tendency of the Tokelau-Islanders to migrate to this Territory consequent upon their own islands being overpopulated. Arrangements have been made for the repatriation this year of 400 Chinese who have completed their contracts, and the importation of 464 new coolies. Many planters oppose the repatriation of experienced Chinese labourers on the grounds of expense and difficulties in training new coolies for special duties, but it is the policy of the New Zealand Government to discourage re-engagements after a term of three years, and to prohibit absolutely the renewal of contracts of Chinese coolies after they have been in the Territory for six years. V. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. I wish to place on record my appreciation of the good work and loyal support given to me by the Secretary to the Administration and the efficient staff of Government officials administering the various Departments. I especially wish to mention the services of the late Mr. H. S. Griffin, Secretary for Native Affairs, who died in May last. He was a very able and sympathetic administrator who understood the Natives thoroughly through experience gained with the London Missionary Society in the Territory for nineteen years prior to his taking up the position of Secretary for Native Affairs. His loss has been keenly felt throughout Samoa. The position of Secretary for Native Affairs has been filled by the former Assistant Secretary, who, like Mr. Griffin, was previously a missionary in Samoa. VI. LEGISLATION. The following provisions concerning the Territory were passed during the year ended 31st March, 1928 : — In New Zealand — The Samoa Amendment Act, 1927. Sections 8 and 9 of the Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2). The Samoa Customs Consolidation Amendment Order, 1927 (No. 2). The Samoa Customs Consolidation Amendment Order, 1927 (No. 3). The Samoa Commissions of Inquiry Order, 1927 (Application of Commissions of Inquiry Act (N.Z.) to Samoa). Amending the Samoa Immigration Consolidation Order, 1924. The Samoa Post and Telegraph Amendment Order, 1928. In Samoa— No. 4/1927, the Native Personal Tax Ordinance, 1927. No. 5/1927, the Taxation, Licensing, and Revenue Amendment Ordinance, 1927. No. 1/1928, the Maintenance of Authority in Native Affairs (No. 2) Ordinance, 1928. Copies of these provisions are attached to this report [Appendix B]. Complete sets of all legislation passed previous to the Ist April, 1927 (in addition to the full sets of copies that have been forwarded each year as they have been issued) are being prepared to meet the wishes of the Permanent Mandates Commission. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. NATIVE AFFAIRS. A complete account of the working of the Native Department for the year would be a year's history of the political agitation in Samoa, for all activities have been determined by the changing state of the Native unrest. As that subject has already been fully dealt with and made well known by the published and detailed report of a Royal Commission, it will only be necessary to state how this unrest'has affected the Department and the Native's relation thereto. It will be seen from the summary that the officials are fewer. This is temporary, and accounted for by some dismissals and some resignations in districts where there is perforce a lessening of activities. The Native Court has not been operating during the recent months, hence noticeably few cases were dealt with. There has been no session of the Lands and Titles Commission during the past year ; but it would appear that there will be a busy session in the near future. The Native personal tax is payable in September annually. Owing to the Royal Commission sitting in September last, the date was postponed until February, 1928, but by this time the antiGovernment party —the Mau—had decided not to pay Government taxes. The revenue for the Treasury usually collected by the Native Department has considerably fallen off owing to the Native

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