A—4

by imprisonment for a term of one year or upwards, or convicted in Western Samoa of a corrupt practice, unless such offender has received a free pardon or has undergone the sentence to which he was adjudged, is not eligible to register as an elector. The Samoan matai, or heads of families, in each of the forty-one Faipule districts elect or choose the representative of the district in the Fono of Faipule. The name of the person so selected is then submitted to the High Commissioner for confirmation of his appointment as Faipule. The Fono of Faipule elects the Samoan members of the Legislative Assembly.

Staff Hereunder is given a table showing staff employed as at the end of March for the past two years: —

Samoan Affairs Detailed relations between tlie Administration and the Samoan people are mainly through the Department of Samoan Affairs, with headquarters at Mulinu'u (close to Apia). Regional and village administration on the island of Upolu is handled direct from Mulinu'u, and the Resident Commissioner at Tuasivi on Savai'i supervises that island. As a matter of policy, the Department of Samoan Affairs pays the fullest attention and respect to ceremonial customs, which are such a marked feature of Samoan life. The number of regional and village Samoan officials as at 31st March, 1948, was 289, details being as follows : Political — Fautua : 2 at £l,OOO per annum. Faipule : 41 at £52 per annum. ; Administrative — Assistant Judges : 3 at £96 per annum. Fa'amasino (District Judges): 14 at £24 per annum. Pulefa'atoaga (Plantation Inspectors): 14 at £27 per annum. Leoleo (Policemen-Messengers): 15 at £9 per annum. Pulenu'u (Mayors of villages): 200 at £l5 per annum.

14

Departments. Europeans. Persons of part Samoan Blood. Native Samoans. Elective Samoan District and Village Officials. 1947. 1948. 1947. 1948. 1947. 1948. 1947. 1948. Government House Secretariat Police and Prisons Justice Treasury and Customs Lands and Survey Postal, Radio, Broadcasting Public Works.. .. .. Education Health Samoan Affairs 2 3 4 1 9 2 7 6 15 16 3 2 3' 6 2* 5 3 9 7 19 18 3 5 6 8 . 13 3 14 9 26 4 4 5 6 8 19 3 21 9 23 4 3 *2 58 1 4 2 21 5 238 192 16 2 66 1 4 2 28 10 308 200 19 296 289 Casual employees 68 1 77 92 55 101 75 539 338 640 642 296 289 Totals 69 77 147 176 877 1,282 296 289