SAMOAN PROGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27044, 31 March 1949, Page 5

SAMOAN PROGRESS

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE RECOMMENDED UNITED NATIONS REPORT N ZP A—Copyright LAKE SUCCESS, Mar. 29. The Trusteeship Council, in approving the annual report on Western Samoa, expressed satisfaction at the recent constitutional changes, and recommended universal suffrage and improved education facilities. The council’s conclusions and recommendations were:— 1. The council notes with satisfaction the reception given by the Samoan population to the constitutional changes introduced by the Samoa Amendment Act, and expresses the hope that loyal and sincere collaboration will give recent reforms the opportunity to produce their full effects. 2. The council recommends that consideration be given to the introduction of a system of universal suffrage applicable to all inhabitants of Western Samoa to the end that the basis of representation in the Legislative Council may be progressively broadened. 3. The council welcomes the policy of tjie administering authority of training Samoans for Civil Service so that they may gradually assume responsible administrative posts in the territory. 4. The council notes with satisfaction that the financial situation of the territory is at present excellent. It is, however, aware that this prosperity is mainly due to the abnormally high prices for copra end cocoa, and it is concerned with the possible repercussions of a fall in these prices on the economy of the territory. It therefore recommends that the administering authority should continue to take all possible steps to protect the economy of the territory against a fall in world prices by diversifying production, by introducing*' secondary industries into the territory, §nd by other measures that may be found possible. The council recommends that the administering authority intensify its efforts towards the development and utilisation of the resources of the territory in order to raise the standard of living of the indigenous inhabitants and requests the administering authority to elaborate an over-all plan for the economic development of Western Samoa. 5. The council takes note of a statement made by the representative of the administering authority that an inquiry regarding the existing preferential treatment of 11 per cent, in favour of British goods is under way. 6. The council urges the administering authority to intensify its efforts in the improvement of the health and social services of the territory. The council requests the administering authority to consider the possibility of taking sample studies of the standard of living of the inhabitants. 7. The council welcomes the proposed establishment of a trust territory, of a new secondary school with full-time educational facilities, and recommends to the administering authority that it intensify its efforts to increase the existing opportunities of higher education for the people of the trust territory. 8. The council urges the administering authority to continue its efforts towards increasing the number of Samoan teachers so that compulsory primary education, as well as more extensive education in middle schools, may become feasible as soon as possible. 9. The council considers that the administering authority should further encourage the development of national culture and the true national-art of the indigenous population.