SAMOA

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1930, Page 8

SAMOA

REPORT TO MANDATES COMMISSION.

WELLINGTON, August 7

Happenings and conditions in general in 'Western Samoa during the past, twelve months are, reviewed in the Government’s report of its administration of the mandated territory, which was presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister, the Hon. G-. \V. Forbes, to-day. Copies of the report have .been, forwarded direct to each member of the permanent Mandates Commission, while 120 additional copies have also, been dispatched to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations at Geneva. After referring to the riot at Apia on December 28th last, and the subsequent dispersal of the Man, which rendered unnecessary the presence there of the force of 250 military police enlisted in New Zealand, the Prime Minister, in a preface to the report, said the situation in the territory was now greatly improved, and no difficulty was lieing experienced in enforcing law arid order.

CO-OPERATION WITH MAU. ‘fThere isj” the Prime Minister pro ceeded, ‘‘good ground to hope that cooperation with the Samoans of the .Ma.u will be '.feasible , at, no distant date, though the possibility of isolated Incidents cannot be ignored. It is considered that the present police force will be adequate for the maintenance of order in the territory, but the |Government- is of course prepared to, reinforce it if necessary.” It b pleasing to note that as a result of economics effected and without any material curtailment of the of the Administration, the territory (except for the .cost of the police) was for the year under review self-support-irig. A subsidy, of £20,C00 was paid to the territory by the New Zealand Government, but the year closed with a surplus of £20,136.” LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Reference is made by the Prime Minister to the change that has been made' in the constitution of the Samoan Legislative Council. «It will, be noted,” be states, ‘ that by an amendment to the Samoa Legislative. Council (elective membership) Order, the number of European representatives lias been reduced fron tbre© to two and. two representatives' of the Samoan race were appointed t; the Council under powers already existing. On this occasion no attempt was made to have these representatives elected or. chosen by the Samoans, the seats on the Council being allotted to the two Fautuas, Malieto,' and • Mataafa. These appointments are regarded, however, as temporary only, and it is the .intention of the Government as soon as conditions ii the territory permit to arrange foi the Samoans themsely.es to select .in some practicable manner their own representatives on the Legislative Council. The Government does not feel, that representation on the Legislative Council of the territory can be regarded as - an adequate means oi enabling the Samoans to share in their own Governieiit, .and they have contemplated either the reinstitution of the Fono of Eaipui’es when conditions . allow or the substitution of some equally suitable means of associating the Samoans in their ■ Government.”

TAXATION. Dealing with native affairs the Administrator says: “Owing to the difficulty in collecting native persona tax it has been abandoned for the present, and to make up in part the resulting deficiency in revenue, the export tax on copra has been increased and small charges made for medical services, among the native officials. Fai pules and Faamasinos have been dispensed with for the year, but though no 'Fono of, Faipulcs lias in consequence .been held, the Administrator has taken the opportunity on several occasions to hold Fonos of ah native officials on Upolu, and tin same has been done on Savnii hv the Resident Commissioner. All chiefs whether officials or otherwise, have had the opportunity of attending these meetings.” IMPROVED OUTLOOK.

“The genera! outlook,” Colonel Allen continues, ‘‘has greatly improved: A]any individual Mau chiefs of importance are in toucli with the Administration and the present indications are ‘hat a steady drift away from the Mau has set in. A campaign of false propaganda in Ne" Zealand followed the events of December 28th. A peculiar development nf the dispersal of the Mau has been the commencement o*f a women’s Man 'which, during March, has l>een holding meetings at Vaimoso and ha* paraded through \pia in imitation of the former action of the men.” The Administrator stated that the Samoan Constabulary was maintained at the expense of the New Zea-

• and Government, the total cost of the Samoa military police and of the constabulary during the financial year being €19,448. The cost, of the Samoan Administration of the previously existing Civil Police and prisons establishment of Europeans and natives was €7705 during the year ended March 31st.