GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25274, 28 August 1947, Page 8

GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA

PARLIAMENT

New Administration Proposed MORE POWER FOR LEGISLATURE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 27. The Government's proposals for giving Western Samoa a measure of self-government, including the establishment of a new legislature, were announced in the House of Representatives by the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr W. Nash) to-day. Mr Nash was given the leave of the House to make the following statement:— “In October, 1946, a draft trusteeship agreement for Western Samoa was submitted to the United Nations by the New Zealand Government providing for the replacement of the League of Nations mandate, and the agreement was approved by the General Assembly. In the meantime, the Samoan people had been consulted about the terms of the draft.

“Their representatives declared they recognised that the trusteeship agreement marked an advance on the mandate. out they felt their ultimate aim of self-government would not be furthered by accepting the agreement. Accordingly they asked that Samoa be granted self-government, and that New Zealand remain as the adviser and protector of Samoa. “Substantial Step Forward” “During recent months the Government has carefully studied the whole question and consulted with the Samoan leaders to discover in what manner the wishes of the Samoans can best be met in the immediate future. Our consultations with the Samoan leaders have led us to believe that a substantial step forward can now be taken.

“Accordingly the Government has worked out plans which will give the Samoans an increased measure of responsibility immediately, and prepare them for taking further progressive steps toward self-government. These plans are now being discussed with representatives of the Samoan people. “It is proposed to establish a Council of State to advise the Administrator, or High Commissioner as he may in future be called, on all important matters of policy affecting the territory. This Council will be composed of the Administrator, as the representative of New Zealand, and of the three Fautua, who ace at present the acknowledged representatives of the Samoan people. Future appointments to the Council will be made by the ,Governor-General on the nomination of the members of the Fono of Faipule, and the Samoan members of the Legislature sitting together. New Legislature “It is proposed to replace the present Legislative Council by a legislature in which Samoan members will have an absolute majority. This bquy will be composed of the following groups of members: members of the Council of State with the Administrator acting as president of the Legislature and possessing only a casting vote, and the three Fautua with all the rights of ordinary members; 11 members nominated by the Fono of Faipule; five representatives of the local European community elected under adult suffrage; and six official members “Where in the past the powers of me legislative Council were limited, it is proposed that for the future the Legislature shall have full powers m all matters affecting the territory. In the case of the following subjects, however, the < onsent of the New Zealand Government to any local legislation will be necessary before it becomes law: external affairs, defence, control of the public service, the imposition of discriminatory Customs duties, currency ana banking, immigration, and any matters affecting the prerogative of the Crown or the title to Crown lands. Reserve Power Retained “In view of her position under the trusteeshiu agreement. New Zealand ‘must continue to hold the general reserve powers of legislation and of disallowance of local legislation. But this necessary reserve power will not restrain the exercise of a real initiative and responsibility by the new Samoan Legislature. “It is proposed that in future the litle ‘Administration of Western Samoa’ shall be replaced by that of •Government of Western Samoa.’ “The Fono of Faipule, or Samoan Advisory Council, which consists of 41 district representatives, will remain constituted as at present. “The Samoan Public Service will be removed from the control of the New Zealand Public Service Commission end an indeoendent public service authority will be appointed in Samoa. It will be the special function of this new authority to find means of promestitag local people, both European 4,nd Samoan, to positions of responsibility as quickly as possible. “Conferences with the Fautua have been held in an atmosphere of the greatest frankness and friendliness end the Government’s proposals will now be discussed fully at a meeting with district representatives U.N. Mil don Informed “The United Nations’ mission in Samoa has been kept informed of our plans. Its own report has not yet been submitted to the Trusteeship Council, but the Government will give full consideration to any proposals that •-hey may make about the Government of the territory. But from our examination of the position and our discussions with Samoan leaders, we are convinced that the plans we have elaborated for the development of self-government in the territory represent a real and welcome advance lor the people of Samoa “In any case the present proposals are intended only as the first steps in a process which will not end until the Samoan people are able to assume full responsibility for the control of their own affairs.