WESTERN SAMOA

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25767, 31 March 1949, Page 5

WESTERN SAMOA

RECOMMENDATIONS BY U.N. COUNCIL UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE AND BETTER EDUCATION LAKE SUCCESS. March 29. The Trusteeship Council, in approving the annual report on Western Samoa, expressed satisfaction at the recent constitutional changes and recommended universal suffrage and improved educational facilities. The Council’s conclusions and recommendations were:— (1) The Council notes with satisfaction the reception given by the Samoan population to the constitirtional changes introduced by the Samoa Amendment Act, and expresses the hope that loyal, sincere collaboration wi'l give the recent reforms an opportunity to produce their full effects. (2) The Council recommends that consideration be given to the introduction of a system of universal suffrage applicable to all the inhabitants of Western Samoa, to the end that the basis of representation in the Legislative Council may be progressively broadened. (3) The Council welcomes the policy of the administering authority of training Samoans for the civil sei vice so that they may gradually assume responsible administrative posts in the territory. (4) The Council notes with satisfaction that the financial situation of the territory is at present excellent. It is. however, aware that this prosperity is mainly due to abnormally high prices for copra and cocoa, and it is concerned with the possible repercussions of a fall in these prices on the economy of the territory. It there • fore recommends that the administering authority should continue to take all possible steps to protect the economy of the territory against a fall in world prices by diversifying production, by introducing secondary industries into the territory, and by other measures that may be found possible. The Council recommends that the administering authority * intensify its efforts towards the development and utilisation of the resources of the. territory in order to raise the standard of living of the indigenous inhabitants, and it requests the administering authority to elaborate an overall plan for the economic development of Western Samoa. (5) The Council takes note ot a statement made by a representative of the administering authority that an inquiry regarding the existing preferential treatment of 11 per cent, in favour of British goods is under way Health and Social Services (6) The Council urges the administering authority to intensify its efforts in the improvement of health and social services in the territory. The Council requests the administering authority to consider the possibility of taking sample studies of the standard of living of the inhabitants. (7) The Council welcomes the proposed establishment for the trust territory of a new secondary school with full-time educational facilities, and recommends to the administering authority that it intensify its efforts to increase the existing opportunities of higher education for the people of the trust territory. (8) The Council urges the administering authority to continue its efforts towards increasing the number ot Samoan teachers so that compulsory primary education, as well as more extensive education in the middle schools, may become feasible as soon as possible. (9) The Council considers that the administering authority should further encourage the development of a national culture and the true national art of the indigenous population.