A—3

Roll numbers of Administration and mission schools at 31st December, 1947, and the previous four years were as follows :

The milk-in-schools scheme was instituted during the year and is in operation in the three Administration schools. Al6 mm. sound movie projector was purchased during the year and educational sound films are being shown in the schools. The proposal to replace the mission schools with four regional and village schools is being proceeded with. This work has been delayed by the lack of transport available for carting native materials and by the general health of the people over the last twelve months. Under the general scheme for scholarships for the Island Territories, two Niuean boys proceeded to New Zealand early in 1948. This makes a total of four boys being educated in New Zealand in addition to the two being trained as Native medical practitioners at the Central Medical School in Suva. Four Niuean girls were selected and sent from Niue in September, 1947, for training as nurses at the Apia Hospital. It is expected they should be available to Niue in about four years' time. Education is being developed along modern lines, teaching aids, text-books, and film-strip projectors being supplied by the New Zealand Government. PAET IV.—ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 53. Natural Kesources The natural resources of Niue lie exclusively in the products of the soil. Indigenous forest provides a limited supply of timber and material for plaited ware, while the belt of land adjacent to the roads is used for the culture of bananas and coconut-trees. Native fruits and vegetables such as limes, yams, taro, and kumara are cultivated to provide for the needs of the inhabitants. Agriculture is difficult on account of the broken nature of the land, and the usual way to provide sufficient soil for cultivation of new plots is by transporting it to a level area from the crevices in the coral rocks where it is lodged. The only live-stock that can be kept under these conditions are pigs and fowls, and steps are taken from time to time to improve the quality of the native stock by importation of new blood. Fish are neither plentiful nor easily caught on account of the absence of any natural harbour, beach, barrier reef, or shallow water anywhere on the coast-line. 54. Production and Marketing Copra and Native plaited ware now provide the exports on which the economic life of the community depends. The copra is all Native-grown and sun-dried. It is purchased by the trading-stores on the island at prices fixed by the Administration on the basis of export realization less a reasonable profit and handling margin for the traders. Bananas have in the past been cultivated for export at the instance of the Administration, which purchased the crop at the delivery point at a price commensurate with the return on sales. There has been no export of bananas during the year under review on account of difficulties associated with the routeing of shipping to arrive at the specific times required to avoid packing or loading on the Sabbath.

2—A 3

33

— 1948. 1944. 1945. 1946. 1947. Administration schools London Missionary Society schools 778 388 686 427 679 506 667 521 653 454 Totals 1,166 1,113 1,185 1,188 1,107