Commonwealth Issues In Samoan Development

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 21

Commonwealth Issues In Samoan Development

itrom Out Parliamentary itenorteri

WELLINGTON, July 3. Although the major adjustments required in Commonwealth relations at present (derive primarily from poMtiIcal evolution in Africa, constitutional advancement in Western Samoa also raises Commonwealth issues, says the annual report of the Department pf External Affairs, tabled tn the House of Representatives. “The Western Samoans have not yet made clear their wishes concerning their future association with the Commonwealth. but until a decision is reached the New Zealand Government, under legislation to be passed before independence, will continue to accord Western Samoa in most respects the same treatment under New Zealand law as is accorded to member countries of the Commonwealth “It Western Samoa is to succeed as an independent slate, and world opinion is likely to hold New Zealand responsible if there is any marked deterioration of administrative standards in Western Samoa, it must be able to look to an outside source for an increasing amount of assistance." the report says. “This is particularly so in the first difficult years after independence if the new state is to be given the opportunity to develop its own resources and become more fully selfreliant. “All the indications are that Western Samoa, with continued New Zealand assistance, will achieve its independence in an orderly manner, and that the basis has been laid for a new relationship, founded on equality and co-operation, between western Samoa and New Zealand. "New Zealand’s policies toward Western Samoa are Skely to have repercussions in other territories in tha South Pacific. Improved com-

munications which promise to overcome the traditional isolation and parochialism of the area will undoubtedly help to accelerate the pace of change and to emphasise New Zealand’s position as one of the major centres of the South Pacific region.” The report says that a resolution which may be revived at the next session of the United Nations General Assembly is of signfieance to New Zealand and other countries which administer non-self-governing territories This resolution is one which was not put to the vote at the Last session, but which invites the Fourth Committee (which considers matters concerning dependent territories) to work out target dates for the independence of all remaining trust territories and non-self-governing territories in Africa. “This is of concern, by extension. to New Zealand, which is responsible for Niue and the Cook and Tokelau islands." says the report. “The main difficulty that prevents administering authority feeing to B demand of this kind (quite apart Worn the legal aspect, for there is no authorisation contained in the Charter for the Assembly to make recommendations of a pohtieal nature on non-self-governing territories) is that it is not practical—and may be positively harmful—to set dates for independence at a time when important processes of political development have still to be completed "The reintroduction of this item at the sixteenth session will pose New Zealand and other administering Powers with difficult and dedicate decistone.’’ says the report