A. —4A.

during the early part of the year, and 25 to the influenza epidemic of August-September. Thus in both years, if normal conditions had prevailed, the number of deaths would most likely have been under 650. This year, so far- (Ist November) there has been no unusual prevalence of sickness, nor has there been any epidemic of any kind. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the. number of deaths should be low —that is, in the vicinity of 600 to 650. That some deaths have not been registered is surmised from such facts as that for the quarter ended 30th September, no deaths were registered in the district of Sagaga, except 1 at Leauva'a. In this same district, excepting 5 births at Leauva'a, only 1 birth (at Saleimoa) was registered during the quarter. The population of Sagaga (excepting again the village of Leauva'a) is approximately 2,000. For the quarter April-June this district registered 28 births and 13 deaths (again leaving out Leauva'a). It is impossible to believe any other explanation than that when this district became strongly impregnated with Mau doctrines, failure to register almost immediately resulted. " Some other villages or districts which show marked divergence from the normal expectation, if population is taken as a basis of calculation, are : — "1. Lepea and Yailoa : Population approximately 600. Births—April-June quarter, 0 ; JulySeptember quarter, 5. Deaths —April-June quarter, 3 ; July-September quarter, 0. "2. Safata district: Population approximately 1,900. Births—April-September, 26. Deaths — April-September, 6. The births registered give a birth-rate of under 30 per 1,000 per annum —a rate which is so much lower than the average for Samoa for years past that it is impossible to believe that it is genuine. The death-rate in New Zealand is the lowest in the world, but the Safata district is apparently trying to beat New Zealand's record, as its annual death rate, based on the figures given, is under 7 per 1,000. " 3. The southern portion of the Aleipata district, comprising the villages of Yailoa, Ulutogia, and Lalomanu. The population of these three villages is approximately 650 (census figures + 6 per cent.). The registered births for the six months April-September number 7, and the deaths 4. The former number is obviously too low, giving a birth-rate of about 22 per 1,000 per annum, whereas for Samoa for some years the rate has been over 50 per 1,000 per annum. The number of deaths registered is too low unless these villages have been exceptionally healthy. "4. Savai'i: Savai'i does not seem to have been affected so early as Upolu, but the figures for the past quarter show that the Mau movement has been affecting some districts very markedly. " (a) Satupaitea : Population approximately 500. No births or deaths were registered during the July-September quarter. " (b) Palauli East, with Grautavai, Gataivai, and other villages in vicinity, but excluding Taga. Population approximately 1,400. Births —April-June, 20; July-Septem-ber, 2. Deaths —April-June, 8 ; July-September, 4. " (c) Palauli West. Population approximately 900. Births —April-June, 4 ; July-Septem-ber, 4. Deaths —April-June, 3 ; July-September, 0. " Only a few of the more glaring cases have been given above, but the records show that in most districts there has been a falling-off in registrations. It is, of course, possible that there has been a marked decrease in the actual number of births and deaths, but this possibility must, I think, be rejected in view of the unequal distribution of the decrease, and of the fact that the most marked diminution is found in the areas most affected by the Mau. " The worst areas, in Upolu, appear to be Safata, the southern portion of Aleipata, Sagaga, portion of Faleata, and portions of Anoamaa. Savai'i appears to be less affected, but Palauli (East and West), Satupaitea, and to a lesser degree Faasaleleaga, are most affected. '' The questions of how and when this matter should be investigated and our records completed are not for me to decide, but I sincerely hope that it will be possible to adjust matters before the annual report has to be prepared. lam confident that if the true facts as to births and deaths are obtained, this year will show a record increase in population, also the lowest death-rate Samoa has experienced." From this report it will be seen that there is good foundation for believing that non-registration is the cause of the falling-off in the live births in the Territory, and the matter is very ably dealt with by the author of the report. Births of Samoans, Western Samoa, 1927. Males. Females. Total. Upolu .. .. .. .. .. ..541 542 1,083 Savai'i .. 275 278 553 Total for Western Samoa .. .. 816 820 1,636

Births by Months, 1927.

5

.11 II' I — Jan. Feb. March, i April. J May. June. July. jAugust. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total. I | I I Males 82 69 75 75 70 70 64 74 58 67 62 50 816 Females 80 62 82 83 66 56 58 81 60 75 51 66 820 Total 162 131 157 158 136 126 122 155 118 142 113 116 1,63b