A.—3

Return of Imports and Exports for the Thirteen Years 1915 to 1927, inclusive.

Medical and Public Health. Apart from an outbreak of very mild influenza in Rarotonga, health conditions throughout the whole Group have remained satisfactory during the year. Owing to his appointment as Director of Maori Hygiene for the Dominion (in succession to Dr. P. H. Buck), Dr. E. P. Ellison resigned the position of Chief Medical Officer in June last. During the year he was in the Group Dr. Ellison rendered very valuable services to our people. His successor is Dr. R. L. Christie, from Samoa, who has had considerable experience in tropical diseases. 11l health compelled Dr. B. G. Thompson, Assistant Medical Officer, to resign his position last month, and his place is being filled by Dr. A. J. Brass, also from the Samoan service. Arrangements have been completed for all the leper cases remaining in the Group to be removed to the Leper Station at Makogai, Fiji, by the " Hinemoa " next month. We are greatly indebted to the New Zealand Government for its assistance in thus clearing the Group of all cases of this disease. During the year steady progress has been made in our campaign against hookworm and yaws. The following are extracts from the report of the Chief Medical Officer :— " During the year there has been one epidemic, an outbreak of influenza occurring in June of last year. Fortunately the disease was of a mild character, with the result that few deaths occurred. The report of Dr. Thompson for June contains an extract from the Register of Deaths, and he attributes four deaths only to the epidemic. " Two cases of typhoid fever were reported for Rarotonga in July, 1927, and in February of this year there was a small outbreak reported by wireless from Mangaia. A later wire announces the recovery of all the cases. " Several cases of mumps were reported in September, 1927, and sporadic cases have been seen since, but the disease has not assumed epidemic form. " The Northern Islands were visited by me between November, 1927, and March, 1928. The condition of health matters in these islands was found to be satisfactory except in Rakahanga and Pukapuka. The former place has many flies, and there are a number of deaths reported in children from diarrhoea and vomiting, the infection probably being fly-borne. The difficulty appears to be in the establishment of proper privies. " During the northern trip one more case of leprosy was discovered at Rakahanga, the patient being a girl of about sixteen years of age. " The health committees established by Dr. Ellison at the various islands were seen. Unfortunately, in some places there appeared to have been some friction between the men's committee and the Island Council. This was apparently due to the committees having gone a little beyond their authority in the matter of trying to establish fines for untidy premises and in issuing orders to individuals. However, it is hoped that since they have had their position and functions explained to them again the committees will continue to do useful work, and that further friction will not occur. " A satisfactory response at Penrhyn was made to the mass treatment for hookworm during the northern trip. A total of 283 persons received the treatment. " In August of last year the New Zealand Government steamer ' Hinemoa ' made a trip to the Northern Group and removed twenty-nine cases of leprosy to Fiji. I accompanied the ship on this trip, having joined her in Apia. " Inspection of shipping has been carried out during the year, pratique having been granted to thirty-seven overseas vessels. " The village committees in Rarotonga have done good work in the matter of village sanitation, and it is hoped that in the ensuing year the sanitation may be still further improved. The Administration has offered a cup for competition between the villages.

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Year. j Imports, j Exports. Total Value.j Year. Imports. Exports. Total Value. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1915 .. .. 65,590 63,057 128,647 1922 .. .. 116,726 125,802 252,528 1916 .. .. 58,478 68,146 126,624 1923 .. .. 131,590 118,710 250,300 1917 .. .. 80,061 60,190 140,251 1924 .. .. 138,202 154,554 292,756 1918 .. .. 99,632 82,708 182,340 1925 .. .. 130,609 151,939 282,584 1919 .. .. 142,925 127,729 270,654 1926 .. .. 134,473 138,588 273,061 1920 .. .. 177,911 94,697 272,608 1927 .. .. 116,606 138,357 254,963 1921 .. .. 112,974 69,301 182,335