PROPERTY OF SAMOANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 26, 30 December 1925, Page 2

PROPERTY OF SAMOANS.

NOTABLE CHANGE IN LAW. THE RIGHT OF SUCCESSION. APIA (Samoa), Dec. 19. Tho last meeting of tho Legislative Council passed one measure that will be history-making so far as Samoa is concerned. Tho ordinance is known as the Samoan Individual Property Ordinance, and it makes a direct attack on tho Samoan customs. Under tho new law it is possible for a Samoan to acquire property and dispose of it by will, or, in tho absence of a will, the property will descend as in the case of an intestacy under European law. The Samoan now has some incentive to work and acquire money and landed property, and where ho does it by his own individual effort he knows that tho property will not pass acoording to native custom. This measure is thus a notable advance in Samoan affairs, varying section 368 of the Samoan Act, which read: “Save so far as may be otherwise provided by regulation or ordinance, the right of succession to the property, whether real or personal, of a Samoan, on his death shall bo determined in accordance with Samoan custom, and all other laws in force in Samoa with reference to succession shall be subject to such custom accordingly.” It is only a matter of time now when the Samoan will becomo a real live individual, and one cannot help thinking that our administrator has determined to attempt the stupendous task of changing the psychology of the natives. When ono remembers that the Japanese changed theirs in a generation, thero is no particular reason why tho Samoan should not do likewise. The next big move wil take place next year, when tho Samoan lands are surveyed, and subdivided. Thero are sure to be some difficulties met with in this proposition, but they will disappear like the other “snags” have.