A—4

Movement of population from the outer districts to Apia is resulting in a shortageof land there for food-production and living-space in the town itself. Amelioration of the condition is to be met by land being made available from neighbouring portions of the New Zealand Reparation Estates. There is only a small volume of immigration into the Territory, this being restricted, to ensure that the best interests of the inhabitants are safeguarded. In regard to both, immigration and emigration, equal treatment is extended to nationals of all States,, whether members of the United Nations or not. Vagrancy is a penal offence. In Samoa a vagrant is defined as a person (other than a Samoan born in Samoa) who has no lawful means of support or has insufficient lawful means of support. Standards of Living Little change has taken place during the last few years in the consumption and standard of living of principal groups of the population. The cost of living, particularly for the European and part-European residents, has shown a considerable increase during and since the war years, but no comprehensive cost-of-living indices are available., Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms All Samoans profess Christianity, and religious observances are prominent in Samoan life. Article 9 of the Trusteeship Agreement is fully observed —there is complete freedom of conscience. Relations between the missions and the Administration have always been harmonious and marked by a full spirit of co-operation. The Territory has no newspapers, and overseas news is disseminated by means of news sheets issued daily by the Administration. A broadcasting service operated by the Administration carries reports of official bodies, addresses on health, cultural matters, general education, and current affairs. Persons may be arrested without warrant only if suspected of serious offences against the person and crimes involving violence. Persons so arrested must forthwith be brought before the Court, and if the officer hearing the charge refuses leave to file an information the prisoner is discharged from custody. There is a free right of petition, all elements of the population are subject to the same laws as regards the safety of their persons and their property, and there have been no instances of the imposition of restrictions on the personal freedoms of the inhabitants. Neither have there been any restrictions on the writing, transmission, or publication of information. Labour Regular employment for wages is not a natural form of Samoan life, and figures taken out at the 1945 census showed only 3 per cent, of the Samoan population in such employment. They are not held to contracts, but work as and when they wishThe plantations can, to a certain extent, overcome the difficulty regarding regular employment by engaging co-operative family or community groups on casual work, but in the stores and in the Administration where regular daily tasks are required the labour turnover is very large. On the other hand, the local stevedoring company has no difficulty in recruitment of labour for the two or three days of intensive work available when a cargo-vessel is in port. This reluctance on the part of the Samoans to regular work led during the German regime to the recruitment of indentured labour from China and from the Solomons. The New Zealand Government, however, for economic and social reasons, has gradually

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