A.—4a.

There were 25 still-births recorded which are not included either as births or deaths in the various figures and rates given in this report. The still-birth, rate per 100 live births for the last four years is as follows : 1924, 1-68 ; 1925, 1-82 ; 1926, 2-44 ; 1927, 1-53. The above figures show a drop of 23 still-births as compared with 1926, when 48 were recorded, but it is doubtful if the present year's record is correct. Deaths. During the year 495 deaths were registered, giving a death-rate per 1,000 of midyear population 12-82, whereas during 1926 and 1925 the deaths numbered 723 and 857, with death-rates of 19-36 and 23-75 respectively. If accurate, the above death-rate would be very satisfactory. Deaths of Samoans, Western Samoa, 1927. Males. Females. Total. Upolu .. .. .. .. .. .. 185 143 328 Savai'i .. .. .. .. .. ..101 66 167 Total for Western Samoa .. .. 286 209 495

Deaths by Months, 1927.

Ages at Death (Samoans), 1927.

Infant Mortality, As has already been stated, the infant-mortality rate for the year under review is 101 per 1,000 births registered, which, compared with 106 for 1926, 186 for 1925, and 153 for 1924, reads very well. Owing, however, to the very strong reasons for believing that this rate is merely approximate, it is not advisable to attach much weight to it. It is a grave pity that the mortality rate for this year has to be viewed with suspicion. Under normal conditions of registration, coupled with the absence of epidemics in any form, a low mortality rate was confidently anticipated. As matters stand at present it is not possible to give more accurate figures, though it is probable that facts re registration may shortly come to light which will make the figures quoted to be accepted as fairly accurate in the near future. Much careful work remains to be done to obtain anything like a true record for the year 1927, and, further, much depends upon the willingness or otherwise of the Native officials concerned to disclose their knowledge of the matter. The recorded number of deaths during 1927 (495) is so far below the figures of 1926, which was 723, as to make all statistics for this year seem very doubtful indeed. The percentage of deaths of children as registered works out about 44-4 per cent, under the age of two years and 48-8 under the age of five years.

6

I I — j Jan. Feb. March. ! April. May. June. July. August. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total. J I Males .. 36 19 : 27 33 45 31 20 16 11 19 13 16 286 Females 18 14 1 28 27 20 24 22 13 13 8 15 7 209 Total 54 33 55 60 65 55 42 29 24 27 28 23 495

« I III I : I I | | 3! col ® J gi 1 s § 2 I si s S -a Pfi Ifl iflVS -£ !* tH >h >n -g 7 (N CO -* "? ® j t; Hh N ! CO S, £ <°,S += <M CO 10 S © i H 1 I I I ! I I 111 | I >*3 S S OH I I I I I rt 1 © r-t <m co r* | m j <0 O h | N co o H 1 Upolu :— Males .. .. 1 2 X 1 5 ..1 I 7 6 12 36 61 17 4 2 1 10 90 185 Females .. 1 1 2 ..2 6 3 .. 1 10 6 2 20 44 18 2 4 2 5 68 143 Total .. 1 2 2 2 2 .J 2 11 3 1 2 17 12 14 ,62 105 35 6 6 3 15 158 328 Savai'i — Males' .. .. 1 ....1 1 ..1 4 3 .... 1 4 7 21 39 8 3-2 1 2 46 101 Females .. .. 1 1 2 3 1 7 .. 6 8 21 12 1 j .. j .. 1 31 | 66 Total .. 2 .... 1 1 ..1 5 5 3 1 14 4 13 29 60 20 4 2 ! 1 3 77 ! 167 Totals, W. Samoa :— Males .. .. 2 2 1 2 I 1 ...-1 9 3 1 1 14 10 19 57 100 25 7 4 j 2 12 136 ! 286 Females .. .. 1 ..1 1 2 .. 2 7 5 3 2 17 6 8 34 65 30 3 4 j 2 6 99 209 Total .. 3 2 2 3 I 3 .. 3 16 8 4 3 31 16 27 91 165 55 10 8 4 18 235 495