SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 10

SAMOA.

ELECTIVE COUNCIL NEEDED. '"What wo want most is an elective Legislative Council, not a nominated one, to govern the group in accordance with the requirements of the people and its financial capacity," said Mr. F. Nelson, chairman of the Citizens' League. who is visiting Sydney, when asked by a. •".Sydney Morning Herald reporter about tho feeling regarding Xnv Zealand's administration of Samoa. Mr. Nelson said it was hoped by the people of Samoa that the new Governor (General Richardson) would be invested witli power to mako changes that were urgently necessary for the welfare of Samoa. There was a number of foolish restrictions that nroueiT to be swept away. One could not. for instance, travel from one island ol tlie group' to another without a permit. It was irritating to have to apply for such a permit every time a person required to make a journey to one or other of the several islands comprising Western Samoa. Again, the regulations regarding indentured labour were far too drastic. The Government was at last retrenching, and J if .they carried out certain reforms tho general position would improve. The group was a very fertile one. and had felt the recent slump less than any other island group. This in no small measure was due to the action of the business community. As for the drift of island trade from Australia, that was. ho thought, a natu-. ral evolution .hastened by Australia's own action in imposing the restrictions on copra that had driven that trade away from Sydney. Once having taken the stop of establishing direct trade with the markets of tliti world, it was nut likely that the islands would ever revert to the old order of things, by which the goods that come from abroad wore imported through .Australia, and their produce sent to Australia for transhipment to other markets. With sensible administration be saw no roasoi) why Samoa's future .should not be bright.