A.—4.

Answers to questions asked by Mile. Dannevig(') are given below : — (1) With regard to the small decrease in education expenditure in 1935-36 it is explained that the increase in staff applied to low-salaried Native teachers only, and this extra remuneration was more than offset by internal adjustments in the working of the Education Department without affecting its efficiency in the slightest. (2) Education revenue is derived from school fees payable by the parents of students, the rates for Natives being as follows :— Vaipouli and Malifa Resident Schools (Junior), £1 per annum per pupil. Avele Resident School (Senior), £1 10s. per annum per pupil. The fees payable by European school-children at the only Government School (Ifi Ifi) were at the rate of £3 per annum per pupil, with a reduction where two or more members of the same family attended the school. As already mentioned on page 20 these fees were cancelled as from Ist January, 1937. y (3) The purely mission schools (Grade I) are inspected by the heads of the respective missions. XVIII,— LIQUOR AND DRUGS. (Information in the form recommended by the Permanent Mandates Commission in the Report of its Twenty-first Session.) A. There were no changes in legislation or regulations issued during the year. B. The judicial statistics in Chapter X show thirteen persons arrested or summoned during 1936-37 for breaches of the laws and regulations relating to liquor. Eleven were convicted and two dismissed. Figures for preceding years were — Arrested or „ ■ , , summoned. Convicted. 1935-36' .. .. .. .. .. ..9 8 1934-35 .. .. .. .. .. ..6 6 1933-34 10 10 C. Spirits and alcoholic beverages imported during the financial year 1936-37 :—

For sacramental purposes, 268 gallons of wine ; rectified spirits of wine for industrial purposes, 120 gallons. D. Production within the Territory is prohibited by law. E. Revenue derived from duties on importation, 1936-37 :— Medicinal liquor (import duty 17f per cent., or 25 per cent., and Port and Customs £ s. d. service tax 5 per cent.) .. . . .. .. . . _ _ 039 q q Industrial liquor (import duty 17| per cent., or 25 per cent., and Port and Customs service tax 5 per cent.) . . . . . . . . . . ~ Sacramental liquor (free of import duty ; Port and Customs service tax 5 per cent.) 3 7 0 These duties are the ordinary ad valorem rates applying to all goods not subject to specific rates of duty ; there is no authorization for higher specific rates of duty 011 liquor, for the rate of duty is immaterial, having regard to the fact that all liquor is sold by and for the Administration at prices approximating current retail prices in New Zealand. F. In view of the position explained in E, there are no other duties, license fees, or taxes.

(!) See Minutes of Thirtieth Session of Permanent Mandates Commission, pp. 124-5.

21

Quantities issued under Average Approxi- Quantity Medical Permits. mate Percentage of imported, Countries of Oriain Alcohol by Weight.* 1936-37. j | Spirituous liquors— ' Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Whisky .. 38-5 to 51'0 720 558f 684§ United Kingdom. Brandy .. .. 38-5 to 49-3 30 30| 31 France and Australia. Gin - •• 40-6 190 187 223f United Kingdom and Holland. Alcoholic beverages— Port, sherry, and 12-0 to 17-8 164 103| 125f Australia, Spain, and burgundy Prance. Vermouth .. 5-5 to 10-0 30 14§ 22 Prance and Italy. Stout .. .. 5-5 78 731|- United Kingdom. * The approximate percentages of alcohol by weight given above are those accepted bv the Customs Department ill New Zealand. Analyses have been made of samples of all brands of ale imported, with results showing percentages of alcohol by weight ranging from 1-51 to only 2-39. The ales imported into Western Samoa, therefore, although subject to regulations under the Samoa Act, 1921, do not come within the definition of " intoxicating beverages" as accepted by the Permanent Mandates Commission (minutes of the tenth session, page 182), and have accordingly been omitted from the return.