A.—4

4

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. NATIVE AFFAIRS. A settlement of the Native unrest has not yet been realized, and as a result the activities of the Native Department have been greatly hampered and developmental work has been suspended. Institutions set up in out-districts such as District Councils and various committees have been undermined and unable to function, and it is now proposed to make considerable reductions in the number of Native officials. There has been a revival of the High Court (Native Department) presided over by Commissioners of the High Court, and this Court is again functioning in Upolu and Savai'i. An important session of the Land and Titles Commission was held in November with satisfactory results. There is a deficiency in Native-tax revenue, owing to the Native unrest and passive resistance, but this deficiency is less severe than during the previous year ; a considerable saving in expenditure has been effected, the amount expended in Upolu alone being £2,000 less than estimated. Agriculture. During the year the operations of the Agricultural Department, so far as they affect the Natives, were brought under the Native Department. Copra. The Native output for the year January-December, 1928, was 12,109 tons, as compared with 9,571 tons for the corresponding period in 1927, a most encouraging result in view of the Native unrest. Bananas. The new banana-export trade has made a great appeal to Native growers, and they have been able to offer more than the capacity of the " Maui Pomare "to transport to New Zealand. From the commencement of this trade in May, 1928, to December, 1928, 22,761 cases and 108 bunches of bananas were shipped to New Zealand.

Cases dealt with by the High Court (Native Department) from 1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1929.

T , i ' Referred j -vr 0 ? Finally , to Land ! er disposed and Titles Adjourned. i of. CommisCases. ! sion. I . . _ _ . (а) Upolu. Land disputes .. . . . . . . I 1 .. 1 Title disputes .. .. .. .. 2 j .. 2 Unpaid taxes .. .. . . .. I 329 302 .. 27 Unregistered dogs . . . . .. 8 8 Enforcement of judgments .. .. 2 2 Claims .. . . . . .. 1 1 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 9 8 .. 1 Total .. .. .. 352 321 1 30 (б) Savai'i. Land cases .. .. .. .. 12 3 .. 9 Title disputes .. .. .. .. 7 2 .. 5 Breach of section 29 of Police Offences Ordiu- 4 4 ance, 1922 Theft 5 5 Contempt of Court .. .. .. 14 14 Assault .. .. .. .. 2 2 Breach of section 3 (c) of Road Traffic Ordin- 1 1 ance 1921 Adultery .. .. .. .. 3 3 Escape from lawful custody .. .. 1 1 Trespass, cattle and horse .. .. 2 2 Breach of section 1 (b) of Copra Ordinance .. 1 1 Breach of section 336 of Samoa Act, 1921 .. 1 1 Breach of section 183 of Samoa Act, 1921 .. 2 2 Trespass wilful .. .. .. .. 2 2 Breach of section 3, subsection (a); of Pre- 1 1 vention of Intimidation Ordinance, 1921 Breach of section 137 of Samoa Act, 1921 . • 1 1 Breach of section 176, subsection (1), of Samoa 1 .. .. 1 Act, 1921 Enforcement of judgments .. .. 2 2 Unpaid medical levies .. .. .. 2 2 Unpaid taxes and other civil claims .. 64 64 Total .. .. ..128 113 .. 15