NEW RULE IN SAMOA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12903, 2 July 1936, Page 3

NEW RULE IN SAMOA

MAU GRANTED FULL CITIZENSHIP. ' GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAST I HARSH LAWS TO* BE ENDED (Press Association; APIA, June 2D. A conference lasting for nearly three hours was held at Vahnoso this afternoon between representatives of the Man and the goodwill mission delegates' From New Zealand. The proceedings were friendly and of a. most cordial nature.

An assurance was given by the Minister, the Hon. F. Lang'S tone, that full rights of citizenship and the .same privileges as wo e enjoyed •by British subjects in New Zealand. The Labour Party, be said, accepted no responsibility for the happen mgs in the past. The Samoans would be taken into the confidence of the Govern men t.

Tn reply to a request for the removal of the act'ng-Adminiistrator, and other officials from the) previous Covet nmont. .Ml’. Langstono pointed out that the new Government did hot remove its officials from the Public Service in the Dominion. The Government' fixed the policy and the officials carried out out. Any official not do'ng so would be removed.

Tumasese remarked that the form."r 'Government had told the Man leaders that they did not know what they wanted.

Mr. La.ngstone said that the.altitude of the present Government was that nobody knew better what Samoa. wanted than the Samoan himself. If there were any harsh laws that would not be tolerated in a country like New Zealand they would be got rid of immediately. The delegation ■was anxious to find a means of improving conditions generally and was oons'denng an increase of tali a. ease in the price of bananas as pakl to the growers during the existence of the p icsent contract.

The question of taxation was discussed and was deferred for further consideration by the Mau.

The Mau requested better representation in the Legislative Council, and the delegat'on put. forward proposals that representatives of Samoans lie increased from two to foil'’, and that if instances arose where are large minority objected to the passing of ordinances, then the subject of the matter should be reforired to the Government. These were accepted,

The Man: agreed to comlvno w’th the Male and attend a business fono at Mul'nuu to-morrow.

LEADERS ANNOUNCE UNITY i WAGES GUTS OF OFFICIALS TO ! BE RESTORED LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME ! UNDER CONSIDERATION MISSION GRATIFIED AT I SUCCESS (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright). ■ (Received July 1, 8.30 p.m.) .! (From the Special Correspondent, of j the U.P.A. with the Minister a 1 i Delegation.) • APIA, Juno 30. Full details of the del’be''a.tioriK which took place on the previous duv at Ys-imuso between the Mau and the goodw'll delegates were given by the Finn F. Langstono before a large combined gathering of Samoans at Miilinim, the Government lieadeuarlern. to-day. Leaders of both political sections affirmed thev'r determvnat'on to work together for a united Samoa. The Minister announced the futf restoration of cuts and salaries of Native and European officials as from July, and agreed to tlio setting up of a committee of Samoans lo confer v-:!h the administrative beads on all matters! relating to finance and taxr “ t on. •V promise*' was given that questions o' public interest affecting the adni'U•sT.rntion o r the mandate would bo jmbUshed locally from time to I'rno m the Sainoan language. the Munster said a scheme to develop and make available about 2000 aces of Crown lands for natives ami Samoan-born citizens who required holdings, was now under consider ation. Hie Samoans are respond dig splendidly to the sprit of the goodwill m.'ss’on. and the delegates nro gratified with the results achieved since the, a* arrival a week ago to-day.