STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 145, 16 December 1926, Page 10

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

The report of the above meeting was submitted to «he Hon. Mr. Nosworthy, Minister of External' Affairs, who suppled the following interesting statement:;— "The Fono of Faipules was established in 1923 under the provisions of the Samoa Amendment Act, 1923, and has for its object the granting of a certain amount of self-government in purely native affairs -by the Samoans themselves. Under the provisions of this Act the Administrator is empowered to appoint Faipules to represent the various districts in to which Samoa is divided, thus constituting a council of advisers,- vnder the name of 'Fono of Faipules,' -which'meets twice yearly at historic Mulinu'u. "The function of theJTono, as provided by statute, clearly sets out that it is to "consider such matters relative to the welfpe of the Samoan people as of their own initiative they think proper or as may be submitted to them by the Administrator.' This Fono has functioned with great success since it« constitution. " Representations have been made that the Faipules nominated by the Administrator are not essentially hereditary rulers and that they exercise functions unauthorised in. organic law, thus superseding the customary hereditary rulers. " "■" .';"'' .'■•"'' "In point of fact, every Fnipule at present appointed is a high and' influential chief, selected because of bis fitness as a leader of th eSamoan people. "The Fono of Faipules, which has recently been in session, advised me on tho 10th instant of the conclusion of a very satisfactory Fono and of its great satisfaction with the position in Samoa at the present time. *|The Fono of Faipules as at present constituted," the Minister continued, "lias the entire sympathy and fullest support of the New- Zealand Government, which alito has the fullest confidence in the Administrator to appoint as Faipules only those persons who are best fitted to be leaders of their people. Struggling as the Samoan people are for advancement, the !New Zealand Government feels that the Faipules, under' the wise and able guidance of the present Administrator, are performing a valuable service, and many 'of them, by their self-sacrifice and .individual-, effort, are showing an admirable example to the Samoan people, which -might well be followed by some of their more enlightened brethren." :..