‘Moral support’ queried

Press, 1 October 1983, Page 8

‘Moral support’ queried

NZPA special correspondent Apia Public resentment is being expressed , in Apia over the Western Samoa Prime Minister Tofilau Eti’s taking a contingent of seven to provide him with “moral support” when he delivers his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly in October. Although the full cost of the trip to New York is not available, the estimate is “about $100,000” in foreign exchange. the Government is®ing

accused of hypocricy because when it imposed austere economic measures on taking office eight months ago its reasoning was that they were needed for economic revival and . to reduce foreign-exchange spending. The Government then said that multi-million dollar debts which, were made by the former administration of Tupuola Efi locally and overseas had to be paid. »i< By taking seven people to New York, Tofilau Eti is accused by his critics, some of them Government: sup-

porters, of “doing exactly what he accused the former administration of doing.” Said one critic, “The public servants are having to put up with a wage freeze for the rest of the year since March; higher duties and taxes have been imposed; higher interest rates and an uncontrolled cost of living — and here is the Prime Minister taking all those people for a free ride."

Under law, the Prime Minister’s allowance per day during overseas official trips Jg $2O.