A.—4.

rile volume of mail-matter m 1936-37 showed a decrease compared with 1935-36, but is explained by the fact that m the latter year both Jubilee and new pictorial stamps of the Territory were issued resulting m a keen demand for stamped covers by philatelists all over the world The value of money-orders paid at Apia was £4,018 4s. 7d„ as compared with £6,527 8s lOd for the previous year Deposits m the Post Office Savings-bank .exceeded withdrawals by £10 379 2s whi e he amount held on the 31st March, 1937, at the credit of 2,014 depositors was £63 597 7s 5d (including interest, £1,480 3s. 2d.). At the conclusion of the previous year the excess of over withdrawals was £9,711 2s. lid., and 1,715 depositors had a credit balance of £51,738 2s 5d (including interest, £1,330 Is. 7d.). ' ® adl ° tr a : fficdiscl o sed a further increase in the number of messages, 9,726 being handled, an advance of 1,685 over 1935 36. Receipts also were £469 more than in the previous year. Lands and Survey. owin g to pressure of work m this Department it was found necessary to appoint an additional staff surveyor from New Zealand. Among the numerous surveys carried out during the year may be mentioned that of the area set apart for settlement by local-born young men, referred to in the paragraph Public Tbust Office. ~K nE0 X P^ dlt , ure a 2 l ° U^ te i J t ° 1 £59 ? 7S '. 7d " and reVenue t0 £743 10s -> leaving a credit balance of £150 2s. 5d., being £17 ss. Id. less than m the previous period. A restoration of salaries in July 1936 more than accounts for this diminution. Funds invested total £8,880 7s. 7cl and the office tUpt-vp was increased to £900 by the transfer of £100 from the year's surplus. The remaining profit £50 2s 5d was added to the accumulated office profits, which now stand at £4,748 13s 6d ' , J h^ r |T e 7 7o e ° f ? derived mainl y from interest 011 the 'invested portion of the accumulated profits of £4,748 13s. 6d. and from commissions. Salaries of staff is the largest expenditure item The office is self-supporting, and its accounts are separate from those of the Administration • but as a matter of convenience, all expenditure is made through appropriation of the Samoan Treasury which is reimbursed at the end of each quarter. Hence the Treasury figures include Public Trust Office expenditure (which is also shown as deduction from the total) but do not show receipts which credited direct to the Public Trustee. J w " lcil are The Samoa Public Trust Office was established under the Samoa Public Trust Office Order 1921 and is separate from the New Zealand Public Trust Office. ' Port and Harbour, Service. Pilotage and harbour services, and maintenance of beacons, lights, and plant continued to function satisfactorily under contract with the Harbourmaster. No serious accident to shipping occurred " the period. A new shipping light was erected on the reef off Faleula to the west of Apia and considerable work was done m improving reef passages and beacons in Upolu and Savai'i. onsiaerable Staff. Particulars are given in the following table, as at 31st March of each year

The staff is organized on the basis of having a European official in charge of each Department with a minimum number of other Europeans, with specialist and other essential qualifications retired or the work The remainder of the staff is engaged in Samoa from Native Samoans or persons of part Samoan blood, according to the nature of the service.

5

! Europeans Persons of Part Native Native Samoan Samoan Blood. Samoans District and Village Services. ' Officials. 1936. 1937. 1936. 1937. 1936. 1937. 1936. 1937. Classified departmental staffs— I Ration 4 4 6 6 95 113 Health 11 *16 3 5 69 90 Native Affairs (including Savai'i) .. 4 3 1 i n 11 n ôo , An Police and Prisons .. ..10 9 2 3 49 54 Other services .. .. 24 26 18 21 23 24 nil 53 58 30 36 247 292 163 192 Casual employees .. .. .. 6 2 18 14 21 21 Totals " • '' 59 60 48 50 268 313 163 192 * Includes Bacteriologist, Dispenser, and : Ho^l&<^t^