Population Of W. Samoa

Remarkable Increases In Native People

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Feb. 20.

npHE tabulation of the census figures * relating to the native population of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa has now been completed and the results have been made available.

They show the total native Samoan and Polynesian population at November 4, 1936, to be 52,266, compared with 36,688 in 1926, when the last official census was taken. The increase over a 10 year period amounts to per cent.

The Samoans are probably the only branch of the Polynesian race showing such a large proportionate increase, which is due to the high and increasing birth rate and the steadily decreasing death rate, especially the infant deaths.

It must also be taken into consideration that, during part of 1936, the infant death

rate was extraordinarily high among the natives owing to an epidemic of whoop ing cough.

The Samoan native population is com posed of 26,468 males and 25,798 females.

The count by age groups shows the fol

lowing totals:—

Male- Heads of families ranking as chiefs or orators (usually over 35 years of age) 3,100 Untitled men (commoners) age over 14 10,149 Boys 2 to 14 years old 11,534 Infant boys under 2 years 1,688 26,468 Female— Married women and unmarried women over 25 11,273 Girls from 15 to 25 years 2,777 Girls 2 to 14 yfears 10,457 Girls, infants under 2 years 1,361 25,798 The native population on the main is land of the group, Upolu, is 34,657, dis tributed approximately as follows: Apia and neighbourhood, 14,000; North Coast, west of Apia, 6,500; North Coast, east of Apia, 6,500; South Coast, 7,500.

The large island of Savaii counts only 16,575 inhabitants (Samoans), 5,001 of whom live in the densely populated dis trict of Faasaleaga. Of the smaller is lands of the group Manono has 843 and Apolima 157 Samoan residents.

Included in the native Samoan popu lation are a fairly large number of other Polynesians and Pacific Islanders as well as Chinese-Samoans, descendants of Chin ese contract labourers and Samoan women. The figures are: — Niueans 210 Tokelau ; 122 Ellice ... 87 Tongans 72 Melanesians .,— 28 Fijians 25 Wallis Is. .. 21 Rotuma 21 Gilbert Is 13 Other Islanders - 11 Samoan-Chinese 778 Samoans 50,878 52,266 Apart from 778 Chinese-Samoans in eluded in the Samoan population, there are an additional 127 Chinese-Samoans, descendants of Chinese free residents, included in the European population.

Of the Chinese-Samoan, offspring of Chinese contract labourers, less than 50 were born during the period 1903 to 1914 —i.e., under the German regime. The majority are born under the New Zea land Administration, 1914 to 1936.

The native Samoans belong to the fol lowing denominations (figures for 1926 are also given): —

The Roman Catholics show the largest proportionate increase in numbers (68.7 per cent) ; the London Mission adherents have increased 35.5 per cent; the Metho dists 33.5 per cent. Owing to their greater

London Mission Society 1936 31,838 1926 23.487 Roman Catholics - 9,566 5,842 Methodist 8,611 6,447 Latter Day Saints (Mormons) 1,939 898 Seventh Day Adventists —— ,312 14 52.266 36,688

activity, the smaller sects, Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists, have also made large gains during the last 10 years.

There are altogether 1,001 native Samoans in remunerative employment, working for a livelihood, 447 of whom are plantation workers on European or Government plantations. A total of 2,049 Samoans are living on European proper ties, mainly in Apia and neighbourhood.

The total population of the territory, European and native, as counted in the census is now composed as follows: Native Samoans 62,266 Europeans ... 3,095 Chinese and Melanesian labourers 585 Total population ... 55,946 For the purpose of comparison it is interesting to quote the corresponding figures of the 1926 census and of the last German count taken in 1913. —

The small increase shown in 1926 against former counts is mainly due to the heavy mortality caused by the 1918- 1919 influenza epidemic.

Dr. W. M. Ramsay, Fiji District Medi cal Officer, arrived in Sydney by the Esperance Bay in February on leave prior to retirement from the Civil Service.

N.Z. German Census Census 1926 1913 Native Samoans . 36,688 34,065 Europeans 2,291 1,582 Chinese and Melanesians 1,043 2,452 40,022 38,099