SAMOAN AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 2, 2 July 1926, Page 9

SAMOAN AFFAIRS

AN AMENDING BILL,

* Several minor amendments of the Samoa Act, 1921, are contained in a Bill brought down by Governor-General's Message into the House of Representatives yesterday.

The Minister o£ External Affairs (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) stated that it was desired that Polynesians of mixed descent could, if desired, be declared to be Samoans. There were a good many people in Samoa who were of mixed descent. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland): "Half-caste Chinese?" The Minister replied in the negative. It was proposed to give the offspring ot' j Europeans and Samoans the status of Samoans. ' Mr. Nosworthy stated also that it was intended to reduce the number of official I members of the Legislative Council of Western Samoa, this having been recommended as a more feasible way of working. The Bill also contained a further j clause extending the jurisdiction of the High Court in matrimonial causes. There would also be a provision relating to the superannuation rights of certain New Zealand Public servants who were serving in Samoa, and another relating to the disposition of the profits accruing from the i reparation estates in Samoa, as well as one dealing with the status and rights of officers employed in connection with reparation estates. The Bill provides that the number of official members of the Samoan Legislative Council shall be not less than four nor more than six. _ At present the number is more than six.