A.—4.

Particulars op Native Deposits( 1 ). There were at 31st March, 1939, 1,643 Native depositors in the Post Office Savings-bank, with an amount of £7,622 Bs. lOd. to their credit. Lands and Survey. The survey staff has been engaged on special surveys and in endeavouring to overtake arrears, and in consequence the office work, consisting of the making and checking of plans, &c., has increased considerably. During the year the Chief Surveyor, who had been with the Department for some years, was seconded to the New Zealand Service, and bis place was taken by an officer from the New Zealand Service. Through depleted staff there is still a large amount of survey work to be completed. Public Trust Office. 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. In past years the office of Public Trustee has been combined with that of the Crown Solicitor. It been found expedient to change this method of control and to entrust the administration of the office to an official specially trained in Public Trustee work. The revenue of the Office is derived mainly from interest on the invested portion of the accumulated profits and from commissions. Salaries of the staff is the largest expenditure item. The office is self-supporting, and its accounts are kept 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 a deduction from the total), but do not show receipts (which are credited direct to the Public Trustee). Public Trust Office expenditure amounted to £490 2s. 4d., and revenue to £533 lis. 6d., leaving a net profit of £43 9s. 2d., being £8 15s. 2d. higher than the previous year. The net profit is not very remunerative, but this is accounted for by the necessity for giving relief to mortgagors who have cocoa plantations and owners of other unsatisfactory mortgage securities which belong to the Common Fund. The total amount of interest written off for accounting purposes during the year amounted to £292 13s. 9d. It is unlikely that any of this sum will be collected. This position is to be expected during the present period of low prices, and it is satisfactory to report even the small working profit mentioned above. Funds invested amount to £9,572 19s. 6d. The Reserve Account remains at £505 18s. 5d., and is sufficient cover to provide for estimated losses on doubtful securities. The net income earned on investments amounted to £207 16s. 10d., compared with £475 4s. Bd. for the preceding year. The reduction is accounted for by the amount of interest written off, £292 13s. 9d., referred to in the previous paragraph. The commission charged during the year for administration of estates amounted to £325 14s. Bd., and the earnings compare favourably with the volume of commission earned last vear —namelv £187 6s. 7d. Port and Harbour Service. Pilotage and harbour services, and beacons, lights, and plant, have been efficiently maintainedNo serious accident to shipping occurred during the year. All inter-island and coastal vessels have been the subject of survey, particular attention being paid to life-saving appliances. Reef passages and channels in Upolu and Savai'i used by local vessels have continued to receive attention. Staff. Particulars are given in the following table as at 31st March of each year

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Persons of TVTn+iw. Native Samoan Europeans. Part lve District and Village Services. Samoan Blood. b moans - Officials. 1938. 1939. 1938. 1939. 1938. 1939. 1938. 1939. Classified departmental staffs — Education .. .. .. 8 8 6 1] 192 249 Health •• 16 16 3 3 108 120 Native Affairs 3 3 1 1 15 12 185 236* rolice and Prisons .. .. 7 6 2 3 51 49 Other services .. .. .. 25 26 24 25 32 28 " 59 59 36 43 398 458 185 236* Casual employees .. .. .. 3 4 43 44 24 30 Totals • • • • 62 63 79 87 422 488 185 236* * This figure does not include the thirty-nine Faipule. (*) See minutes of thirty-fifth session of Permanent Mandates Commission, page 164.