SAMOAN ADMINISTRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23201, 27 May 1937, Page 10

SAMOAN ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES OF THE FAIPULE STATEMENT BY MINISTER A "STAY-IN" STRIKE (Pea United Press Association) WELLINGTON. May 26. The Apia cablegram reporting on the dissatisfaction of members of the Samoa Fono (published yesterday) was referred to by the Acting Minister of External Affairs (Mr F. Langstone) in an interview this evening. He said that unless a person had knowledge of Samoa it was easy to place a wrong interpretation on the message. Except for the cocoa, copra and banana industries, the resources of Samoa were extremely limited. The extent to which the Samoans themselves were able to contribute to the finances of the Administration was very small. To assist the Administrator and the Legislative Council, there were 39 P'aipule, who discussed matters affecting Samoans generally. The Government had this year increased the salaries of the Faipule from £ls to £36 per annum. As the business of the Fono should take no more than 10 or 12 days a year, these chiefs were well rewarded. "A daily allowance of 8s is asked for to help the Faipule to meet the cost of staying at Apia, but the visiting chiefs are always the guests of local residents," said Mr Langstone. " The suggested daily allowance would amount to nothing more nor ness than an increase in their annual salary. Their quotation that ' It is best to unfeather one bird at a time' really means a ' stay-in' strike, as they decline to discuss anything until this is granted. It is our duty to assist the Samoans to fit themselves for self-government. While ensuring that those serving their people are reasonably well rewarded, we should, I think, encourage in the Samoan the same civic sense that exists in New Zealand, where service does not depend on remuneration." An Arjia cablegram published yesterday stated:—The Faipule are dissatisfied with the new scale of pay of £3 per month. The former rate was £ 10 per annum, with eight shillings per day allowance when the Fono was in session. They now demand an allowance of eight shillings, in addition to the £36, and refuse to continue the Fono until the matter has been definitely settled. The Actinc Administrator suggested to them that they should continue, as many important matters have to be discussed, and to leave the salary auestion to be settled later, but the Faipule say: " It is best to unfeather one bird at a time."