WESTERN SAMOA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26220, 18 September 1950, Page 7

WESTERN SAMOA

U.N. MISSION REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT

NEW YORK, September 15. A mission from the United Nations Trusteeship Council reported to-day that the latest political andconstitutional changes introduced by the New Zealand Government in Western Samoa represented an interesting and promising development. However, the mission considered that ways should be sought for increased participation by the Samoans in the executive branch of the Government.

The mission said it shared the view of a previous mission which held that the Samoans were not ready for full self-government. The mission reported that the economic situation of the territory was very sound, though new sources of taxation might have been found to finance the increased health and educational services which the Samoans are seeking. The Samoan social structure was “strong, durable, and highly conservative,” the mission said. The proposed elective council for Nauru should have legislative and budgetary powers. The mission recommended steps towards increased participation by the Nauruans in the Administration. Improvement of educational facilities should be undertaken* as a matter of urgency. The mission reported that present and planned facilities for the health and education of the natives in New Guinea were “by no means adequate.** The mission agreed with the Australian Minister of External Affairs (Mr P. C. Spender) that New Guinea offered vast possibilities of development, but found it “almost a virgin territory with an enormous need for capital investment.”