A.—4.

C. Spirits and alcoholic beverages imported during the financial year 1938-39 : —

For sacramental purposes, 250 gallons of wine; rectified spirits of wine for industrial purposes, 88 gallons. D. Production within the Territory is prohibited by law. E. Revenue derived from duties on importation, 1938-39 : — Medicinal liquor (import duty, 17-§ per cent, or 25 per cent.; and Port and £ s . d. Customs service tax, 5 per cent.) .. . . .. .. .. 842 1 6 Industrial liquor (import duty, 17| per cent.; and Port and Customs service tax, 5 per cent.) .. .. .. . . .. .. .. Nil. (Note. —No duty was payable under this head, as the 88 gallons of rectified spirits of wine referred to in paragraph C were all imported by the Administration.) Sacramental liquor (free of import duty; Port and Customs service tax, 5 per cent.) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 300 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 on 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. G. There is no Native beverage containing alcohol. The Native ceremonial drink kava if allowed to stand does not ferment,-and after a few hours becomes stale and unpalatable. It is not consumed in sufficient strength or quantity to have toxic effects. H. General information with regard to liquor, in addition to the above, was given in the eighth report, 1928. During the year under review there were no offences reported under the Samoa Dangerous Drugs Order 1930. XIX.—HEALTH. The staff consists of three European medical officers, twelve Native medical practitioners, one European dental officer, and a European bacteriologist and nursing stafE consisting of a Matron and 7 European sisters, 26 Native nurses, and 65 trainees, the complete health service comprising 19 Europeans, 120 Native Samoans, and 1 Chinese dresser. During the year two students completed their course of training at the Central Medical School, Suva, and returned to the Territory to take up their duties as full-time Native medical practitioners. Two new training classes were started during the year for Samoan nurses, the tutorial work being in the hands of a European nursing sister. There are now twenty-two fully trained Samoan nurses on the staff and forty-eight student nurses in various stages of training. The baby-welfare work was extended by the opening of a further clinic at Satupa'itea, to serve a large area greatly in need of instruction in this important work. The assistance of this branch of the health services in spreading ante-natal and nursing information should be a valuable contributing factor in lowering the infantile-death rate. It will be noted with gratification that the infantmortality rate again shows a reduction. The year has been marked by the reorganization of the European ward of the Apia Hospital, extensive additions and alterations having been made, and a children's and a women's ward being established. The patient capacity of the ward is now twenty-eight.

4—A. 4,

25

Quantities issued under Average Approxi - Quantity Medical Permits. — mate Percentage imported, Countries of Origin. Alcohol by Weight.* 1938-39. 1937 _ 38 , j 1938^y. Spirituous liquors —• Gallons. Gallons. Gallons. Whisky .. 38-5 to 51-0 450 685J 561f United Kingdom and Ireland. Brandy .. .. 38-5 to 49-3 40 30 France and Australia. Gin .. .. 40-6 400 302 T 7 p United Kingdom and Holland. Rum .. .. 40-0 to 47-0 Nil. Nil. 14|- Jamaica. Others .. .. .. 6 Nil. 6-J France. Alcoholic beverages— Port, sherry, and 12-0 to 17-8 152 147|- Australia and France, champagne Vermouth .. 5-5 to 10-0 60 31 32-f France and Italy. Stout .. .. 5-5 180 124|- 152 United Kingdom. * The approximate percentages of alcohol by weight given above are those accepted by the Customs Department in 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.