SAMOA AMENDMENT BILL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 27, 1 August 1923, Page 11

SAMOA AMENDMENT BILL

APPOINTMENT OF FAIPULES

POWERS OF THE ADMINI-

STRATOR.

Exception was taken in the House of Representatives last night to a clause m the Samoa Amendment Bill which it was admitted did not clearly express the intention for which it had been framed, and the passage of the Bill was impeded pending inquiry into the altered form it shall take..

Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) said the Bill seemed to give the Administrator a free hand to create faipules, whereas the power should Be confined to appointments, which would be made in any case by native qualification. The powerß of the Administrator should be limited by the Bill. : The Minister (Sir Maui Pomare) said the clause was' desired by the faipules themselves. The, faipules were by no means hereditary, and the Administrator, even under the German regime, had always had the final approval of appointments. The constitution and custom were not altered in the least.

In reply to Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller), the Prime Minister said that the Bill had already passed the Legislative Council, but if after consultation with the Attorney-General he found it necessary to alter the clause, an amendment could be effected by the Governor-Gen-eral. '."' ■

Mr. Sidey still felt uneasy about the Bill as framed, and suggested that only the short title should be approved_ while the point in question was investigated. It was admitted that the clause did not express- the proper intention, and it would be dangerous not to make the meaning clear.

The Prime Minister said he was glad to say the new Administrator of Samoa was proving a great success. He had "caught on" to the people, and was inspiring them with confidence. The Bill had been given full consideration by various bodies at Apia, and he was satisfied the legislation was desired. The people of Samoa were happier now than than they had been for the last 25 years, and he was anxious that the measure should be passed this session, so that it should be given immediate operation; He assured the House that full consideration would be given to.the suagested- amendment. ,

The statement did not satisfy the Liberal members, and after further discussion progress was reported and leave was given to sit again, the Prime Minister undertaking to see- if the clause objected to could be improved.