A.—4

" Book debts " are comprised of overhead charges for Chinese labour, and charges for medical, Public Works Department, educational, and other services. European taxes outstanding are also included. " Unauthorized expenditure " : This item represents expenditure which has been paid in the year just closed but is a correct charge against the authorized expenditure of the coming financial year. It will be noticed that the assets and liabilities of the Post Office Savings-bank have been included in the accounts for the first time. The remaining items do not appear to call for special comment. PUBLIC TRUST DEPARTMENT. The year just closed has been more successful from a financial point of view than the previous one, operations having resulted in a small profit to the Trust Office. During the year seven new estates have been placed with the Office to administer, and one assigned estate under the Bankruptcy Act, 1908, has also been received, the total value being £5,250. Of these estates, three have been completed. Owing to the general trade depression in the Territory, some difficulty has been found in realizing estates, and at present the outlook shows little prospect of improvement. The work and accounts of the Office have proceeded satisfactorily throughout the year, the work being kept up to date. WIRELESS DEPARTMENT. The new Apia Station has now been in service for more than a year, and the new installation and situation have proved in all ways excellent. Traffic is handled with a minimum amount of trouble, owing to the compact arrangement of apparatus. In an endeavour to overcome troublesome fading on some of the daylight schedules with Wellington on short wave, a special transmitting - antenna for 26 metres has been erected, and the result has been a gain in signal strength and steadiness. The net receipts on radio-telegraphic transactions during the year amounted to £3,211 175., the number of messages handled being 14,455. Out-stations. —The Salailua Station was reopened in May, 1930, after having been closed for a period of eighteen months. Fakaofo, in the Union Group, which was closed for the purpose of bringing the Native operator to Apia for further instruction, was reopened in October, 1930. All the out-stations (five) are now in commission. Broadcasting Station. —On the 24th January, 1931, a privately owned and operated broadcasting station was opened in Apia. The power used is 2£ watts, on a wave - length of 320 metres. The programmes consist of gramophone records. Amateur Radio Receiving Licenses.—Twenty licenses were in force at the 31st March, 1931. STAFF. The following is a return of the European staffs of Departments, including persons of part Samoan blood. Members of the Police Department as established prior to 1928 are shown under the departmental heading, members of the Constabulary as constituted by the Samoa Prisons and Constabulary Order, 1929, being shown separately.

Notes. (i) Resident Auditor, a new appointment. jj (ii) Department previously a branch of the New Zealand Reparation Estates. Position of Chief Judge temporarily vacant on 31st March, 1929. E (iv) Public Trust Office staff (2) not shown previously in this return. t(v) Duetto s.s. "Lady Roberts" going out of commission; includes one part-time officer. R(vi) Two additional junior probationers appointed. (vii) Department uow merged with Public Works Department. (viii) Consequential reduction made in Chinese staff. (ix) and (x) One temporary vacancy at 31st March, 1930. (xi) Number upon disbandment of Samoa Military Police and establishment of Constabulary in April, 1929.

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European Staff as at 31st March, Departments. 1928. 1921). 1930. 1931. Administrator's .. .. .. 1 2 2 I 2 Secretariat .. .. .. .. 5 5 6 (i) 6 Agriculture .. .. .. .. 7 Customs and Harbour .. .. 8 10 10 8 (v) Education .. .. .. 11 12 12 14 (vi) Engineering and Transport .. .. .. .. 2 (iij .. (vii) J ustice .. .. .. .. 3 2 3 (iii) 3 Labour .. .. .. .. 2 2 1 2 (viii) Lands and Survey ...... 5 4 3 3 Medical .. .. .. .. 22 20 19 20 (ix) Native Affairs .. .. .. 3 5 3 4 (x) Police and Prisons ...... 6 6 5 4 Postal .. .. .. .. 4 5 5 5 Public Works ...... 8 6 6 6 Treasury and Public Trust .... 4 4 6 (iv) 6 Radio .. .. .. .. 8 8 9 8 Savai'i .. .. .. .. 4 3 3 3 Totals J ...... 101 94 95 94 Constabulary .. .. .. .. 45 (xi) 47 33 0 ——————— ■ ■ Grand totals .. .. .. .. 139 142 127