A. —4b.

What associations are there of Stevenson in " Vailima " and the surrounding grounds ? —There appear to be none at the present time except for the grounds and a few old landmarks ; but the buildings and the grounds are now quite different. The Chairman.] How long ago did Stevenson die ? —1894, sir. Mr. Baxter.] " Vailima " must be kept in order ? —That is so, as the Governor's residence. I want to know if there is anything to justify a statement such as this : " I am equally certain that any neglect of the property would arouse world-wide resentment " ?—I do not think that there is any justification for that. The Chairman.] It is only a matter of opinion. Lovers of Stevenson may still continue to be interested in " Vailima ?—Yes, certainly. It will still be looked upon as a shrine. There is the home, and the grave, and the remains of the old Road of Gratitude ; but that I may say is not being kept up. The Chairman : I remember the Road of Gratitude when it was only a few years old, and as a road it was contemptible. There was no formation, and the roots of the trees stretched across the grass to form the surface of the road. Mr. Baxter.] Under the heading of " Expenditure " there is a chauffeur at £170 : is that a Native boy or a European ? —A Samoan, as far as we know. What is the usual pay for a Samoan for a position like that ? —The usual pay is about £10 per month for a car-driver, but I would not say that £170 is excessive for a chauffeur for the Administrator. Then in what respects do you say that the expenditure at " Vailima " is excessive ? —ln the pay and maintenance of labourers and domestic servants. In what way, Mr. Gurr ? Can you tell us why ? —They are unnecessary to the extent to which they are employed. You mean there are too many for the work to be done ? The Chairman: He means it is kept up in too big a style. Witness : It is my impression that there is a great deal more work done than is absolutely necessary as the Governor's residence. Mr. Baxter.] What do you consider is unnecessary there ? —There is the Agricultural Experimental Farm there. That is provided for in another locality, and I think that is quite sufficient for this Administration. Anything else ? —The golf-course, and the cricket-ground. There are other places where these games can be carried on. We have the pilot-station, the Apia Park, and there are other places outside of Apia. Is there any other item there ? —Upkeep of motor-cars and horses. What have you got to say about that ? —Well, those figures are taken from the Administrator's report, and Ido not know how much can be proportioned to the upkeep of horses. Ido not know how many horses there are there, and with the motor-cars they are not altogether necessary. You mean the horses are not ? —The horses are not altogether necessary. The lighting account seems to be an expensive one, but I am not prepared to say how far. Coming to Native Affairs : Under the heading of Fiji is shown £475 as the salary of the Secretary of Native Affairs. I think that has been altered since ? —That is so, and we state here in a note, "It is understood that this year a larger salary is appropriated for the Secretary of Native Affairs in Fiji" ; but we were not in a position to state the amount at the time of making out this report. Mr. Meredith.'] Do you know the amount now ?—No, we do not know the amount now. Mr. Baxter.] And then this expenditure under Native Office —you show thirteen clerks and four messengers, both Apia and Savai'i : are these Native boys or Europeans ? They show Inspectors, the Secretary, and the Resident Commissioner, and Assistant Secretary are provided for ? —They would not all be Natives. At the time this report was made out there were several European Inspectors. Talking about the clerks ? —I presume they would all be Natives, and I assume the messengers here would be Samoans. These figures were taken from the report, and they are copied exactly as they are in the report. From the fact that you have put this in and the fact of the comparison I conclude that you say the Native Department is expensively run. Can you suggest any way in which it can be less expensively run ? —Yes. When I found the expenditure in the Native Department as it is stated in the reports I considered it was too expensive for the population of the Natives. On what do you base your opinion ? Have you had previous experience ? —I have had previous experience. I base it on the experience I have had in Tutuila. The running of the Native Department in Western Samoa was more expensive in proportion to the population than the running of the Native Department in Tutuila. Do you know to what extent ?—About one-third more. Per head ? —According to the population. Of course, I can give you a calculation I made from the report of the Governor of Tutuila last year to amplify and bear out what I have said. Let us have that explanation?— The payment of Native salaries for the administration of the Natives in Tutuila as stated in the report of 1926, I think, is 12,602 dollars. Added to the salaries that are paid to the Native officials there is the salary of the Secretary of Native Affairs. The Secretary of Native Affairs in Tutuila receives'a salary of 3,500 dollars a year. He is also Chief Judge for American Samoa. The actual proportion of the 3,500 dollars which has been calculated previously to be charged against the Native Department or the administration of Natives is 2,000 dollars. That is, of this salary 2,000 dollars is paid by the Native Department ? —And 1,500 dollars by the United States Government as Judicial Officer. He has a clerk, who is also paid by the United States Government 2,000 dollars. The total of the sums paid to the Secretary of Native Affairs, his

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