Talks On Western Samoa Outlined By Commissioner

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28776, 23 December 1958, Page 12

Talks On Western Samoa Outlined By Commissioner

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 22. “Widespread goodwill toward Samoa exists in New Zealand, partly because of the record of several thousand Samoans now in New Zealand, where so many are proving worthy citizens,” said the High Commissioner of Western Samoa (Mr G. R. Powles) tn a review at Apia of his recent official discussions in Wellington. “1 feel that New Zealand is prepared—not only at government level but among the people as a whole —to continue with Samoa its special relationship,” he said. “The creation in Samoa of a strong, energetic government, determined to do its best for the welfare of its people, will meet with a ready response in New Zealand.” In his three weeks in New Zealand he had conferred' with many Cabinet members, senior departmental officials, and business organisations on matters connected with Samoa’s future, said Mr Powles. Detailed preparations were now beginning for the final steps toward self-government in accordance with the plan agreed upon between New Zealand and Samoa at the constitutional contention late in 1954.

There were many gaps in the resolutions passed by that convention. The actual conditions of Samoa’s new constitution, and the nature of the changes to be made in 1960, needed to be agreed upon by both New Zealand and Samoa. In the intervening period many important constitutional details must be decided by study and consultation. “Much Study Needed” “Much study is also needed on the nature of future relations between Samoa and New Zealand,” said the High Commissioner. “Various New Zealand Government departments are already arranging these studies. As an example, the future relations of important technical departments, such as the New Zealand and Samoan post offices, are undecided at present. “In trade relations, an Important matter is likely to be the future of the banana trade, if and when Samoa has a separate currency of her own. There is also Samoa’s position in relation to

New Zealand’s trade treaties with other countries, and in relation to foreign exchange and dollar questions.”

In the economic sphere, New Zealand wanted to see more initative in Samoa, said Mr Powles. The recent approval by the Samoan Legislative Assembly of an economic development plan was regarded as a step in the right direction, but New Zealand opinion was that Samoa had much more work still to do in this field.

The question of New Zealand financial aid to Samoa was discussed at length with various Cabinet Ministers and Treasury officials, he said. For some items New Zealand felt a responsibility, as the administering authority, to make grants on her own initiative.

In the wider field of general capital assistance, it was clear Samoa should indicate her needs in detail before they could be considered, in New Zealand or elsewhere. Because he still had to confer with the Fautua (joint heads of State) and with Samoa’s Ministers in the Executive Council, and because some matters had yet to be considered by the New Zealand Cabinet, it was not possible to go into detail yet on the wide range of his New Zealand talks, said Mr Powles. Matters Discussed

Among specific matters discussed, however, were the proposed Bank of Western Samoa, on which a bill was nearly ready for presentation to the Samoan Legislative Assembly, a superannuation scheme for the Samoan Public Service, a review before 1960 of the Public Service organisations. the continuation of the Government scholarship scheme whereby promising islands students enter New Zealand secondary schools, airport development, the immigration of Samoans into New Zealand, and banana exports to New Zealand. “While Cabinet Ministers and departmental heads showed they are sympathetic to Samoa and her problems, it is clear that more study needs to be done in Samoa on all these matters,” said MJ Powles.