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FOOD AND DRUGS. The New Zealand Food and Drugs Act, 1908, with its regulations, is in force in Western Samoa. During the year the following foodstuffs were condemned and destroyed under the supervision of the officers of the Department : Meat in kegs, 270 lb. ; frozen meat, 463 lb. ; canned meat, 774 lb. ; butter, 195 lb. ; fish, 20 lb. ; fruit, 95 lb. ; bacon, 10 lb. SANITATION. (a) European.—Permits issued, 72 ; water-closets installed, 14 ; sinks installed, 24 ; lavatorybasins installed, 20 ; cast-iron baths installed, 9 ; septic tanks constructed, 9 ; drainage, 1,426 ft. ; number of loads of rubbish removed to the dump, 1,248. (b) General. —Native sanitation : Inspections for the year, 3,551 ; nuisances discovered and rectified, 1,054. It will be noted that there is a decided falling-off in the number of premises inspected, and the reason is not far to seek. The inspectors have done their best, but owing to influence of the Mau, which has prevailed in and around Apia, in many instances it has not been possible to carry out the work owing to the various obstacles placed in their way by the owners of the land or fales. There can be no doubt that sanitation generally has suffered very much in the past year, and it is feared that it will be, some considerable time before any improvement can take place. In this, as in most matters medical, the co-operation of the Natives is essential to success. At present a lot of sanitary work is being done in and around Apia in the way of drainage, septic tanks, &c., but the Natives have unfortunately fallen far behind, especially in the matter of drop-latrines over the sea, and there are complaints from all parts of both islands as to the condition of the villages. CHILD WELFARE. Owing to the political situation, which has caused the women's committees in villages to cease to function, very little has been accomplished this year. As mentioned above, a nurse stationed at Fagamalo, in Savai'i, is doing good work, and is now training another nurse. It is hoped that the women's committees will soon commence work again, and then it will be possible to make another start. At present we have no European Child Welfare officer, but the committees when once set going again can and doubtless will do good and effective work. The infant-mortality rate for the year under review shows a decrease of 5 per 1,000 live births as compared with 1926, being 101 as against 106. Although these figures show such an improvement, it is doubtful, owing to disorganization caused through the Mau movement, if they are of value from the statistical point of view. They are probably far from correct. VITAL STATISTICS (SAMOAN). Population. The total Native population on the Ist January, 1927, was estimated to be 38,003. Native Population, Western Samoa. Males. Females. Total. At Ist January, 1927 .. .. .. ..19,385 18,620 38,003 Live births during 1927 .. .. .. .. 824 812 1,636 Arrivals from overseas .. .. .. . . 555 386 941 Deaths during 1927 . . . . . . . . 286 209 495 Departures for overseas .. .. .. .. 534 336 870 Population at 31st December, 1927 (estimated) .. 19,942 19,275 39,215 Natural increase .. .. .. .. . . 538 603 1,141 Excess of arrivals over departures . . .. .. 21 50 71 Total increase of population.. .. .. .. 559 653 1,212 The percentage increase in population during 1927 was 3-18, as compared with 3-58 in 1926 and 3-26 in 1925. The arrivals and departures will be found to balance each other over a period of years. Births. The births of 1,636 living children were registered during 1927, giving a birth-rate per 1,000 of midyear population of 42-37. For 1926 and 1925 the figures were 1,965 and 2,033, the birth-rate being 52-62 and 56-3 respectively. As already pointed out, the falling-off in the number of births this year is believed to be due to non-registration, as it is difficult to find any other cause. Prior to his departure for New Zealand in November, 1927, Dr. T. Russell Ritchie wrote a report to the Secretary of Native Affairs re the then-existing position, which report is here quoted in extenso : — " The following notes prove conclusively that although the great majority of births and deaths in Western Samoa are being registered, an appreciable number of people are ignoring the regulations and neglecting to register births, and I think, in some cases, deaths. There is no doubt that there is failure to register births in a number of cases ; probably during the past nine months the number not registered amounts to between two and three hundred. In the case of deaths, however, it is more difficult to form an opinion. The records of the past few years lead us to expect a low deathrate (i.e., a low rate as compared with past years). Thus in 1925 the total deaths for the first six months were 301 : whooping-cough and a very dry season brought the twelve-months total to 857. For 1926 the total number of deaths was 723. Of these 53 were due to the outbreak of dysentery

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