The Samoa Times. Editor: Ernest A. Dobble. SATURDAY, APRIL 24. Civil Government In Samoa.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 20, Issue 17, 24 April 1920, Page 6

The Samoa Times. Editor: Ernest A. Dobble. SATURDAY, APRIL 24. Civil Government In Samoa.

As was indicated in last week's issue of "The Samoa Times," the formal change from Military Occupation to Civil Government under the mandate will take place on Ist May, Samoa, though now happily far remote from the storm centre, has yet been directly affected by the great struggle of the last six years, a struggle, we regret to say, which has so shaken the Whole world that it leaves disorder and stupidity foully rioting over many fair lands. This is the poison-fruit of war. Samoa may be thankful that she has in great measure escaped its evil influences. We. venture to congratulate the community, first that the change to what, with small modification, is the normal positron of a tropical British settlement, has come early and while great questions remain yet undecided, and secondly that, as we read the change, there will he as little disturbance as possible in the ordinary lives of our people. As appears from the official announcement in our advertising columns, it is not intended to hold any celebrations on ist May, but we understand there is an intention to bring forward the matter of~ flag-raising celebrations on August 30th, the anniversary of the day on which the British flag was first hoisted over Western Samoa by the Occupying Force.

It is regrettable that the laws embodying the new system could not have come to Samoa in completed condition by the last "Navua." That apparently has not been possible, but the abolition of the military system is not being delayed on that account. The draft laws, which we have perused at the Central Office, and which we understand are in final form, are stamped in New Zealand under date March 30th, so that the laws were then clearly still in draft fbrm. These laws are extensive, and it would be quite impossible for us to attempt to present to our readers an accurate account of their contents, which are necessarily very involved; but it will be of the greatest interest to our citizens to know in what way the new Constitution will affect them directly and as an immediate measure. This, we • think, calls for publication, and we have therefore, with the courteous assistance of several officers of the Government, compiled the following statement of what seems to us the points of which the community should at once be aware.

In the first place, the executive government of

Samoa is declared by the new law of New Zealand to be vested in His Majesty the King in the same manner as if the Territory were part of His Majesty's Dominions. We are not an integral part of the Empire; we must obey the Mandate commissions to the letter; but, in accordance with our constitution, the King governs us just as much as if we were in London or Fiji. Administrator, acting with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council, may make Ordinances for the good government of the territory. These Ordinances, however, cannot impose duties on goods imported into or exported from Samoa, which duties have to be fixed from New Zealand. Taxation, apart from Customs, may be imposed locally, and we are informed that no immediate change in taxation has been brought down or is intended. The New Zealand provisions for Customs duties are not yet complete, and we hope to publish later a statement in this connection. In the marriage law there is a distract advance which does not seem so far to have caught the attention of the community. The existing restrictions of the German law on marriage in Samoa are well known. It has hitherto been forbidden that a European and a Samoan should contract a legal marriage. The disability is not re-enacted : marriage is now free. It is also worthy of note that the existing requirement of civil marriage has disappeared. - Ministers of religion or other persons are to be appointed by the Administrator as " marriage officers," and such an officer solemnizes the marriage in the presence of two witnesses.

The liquor question was settled for Samoa by Sir James Allen at the Citizens' Meeting held in the Market Hatl on 9th March, when he informed the meeting that the late National Government of New Zealand had resolved that prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquor in Samoa must prevail. Accordingly the Constitution Order prohibits, under severe penalties, the manufacture, importation, and sale of intoxicating liquor, arid also the giving of intoxicating liquor to a Samoan. The Administrator is however em*-' powered to purchase and import such intoxicatiug liquor as he thinks requisite for hospitals and medical' services, and for sale -for medicinal, sacramental, or industrial purposes. Regulations have now been settled whieh permit of such sale. The liquor imported by the Government is to be kept in the custody and control of the Collector of Customs or other authorised 1 officer, and may be sold, under certificates front a Medical Officer, by the ' Collector or other custodial! for cash at such prices as may be approved by the Ad minis-

trator, not being less than landed cost. Certificates cannot be hoarded. They must have been issued within one month prior to the delivery of the liquor; and they must.be to the effect that the liquor is required by the purchaser or members of his family for medical reasons, and must set out the nature and quality of the liquor so required. There is a heavy punishment for breach of these provisions. Liquor for sacramental or industrial purposes is supplied on written authority of the Administrator. The Constitution Order provides for the issue of Samoan Treasury notes, and expressly lays down that all currency notes issued by the Military Administration of Samoa shall be deemed to be Samoan Treasury notes. The Administration have recently issued a number of new notes to replace defaced notes ,of previous issues and it is not, we are informed, anticipated that any issue of Treasury notes will be made immediately. Finally, it is worthy of note that all debts and liabilities of the Military Administration, apart from those incurred in the maintenance of the military forces, are payable out of the Samoan Treasury. On enquiry as to the continuance of local provisions by way of existing Ordinances, we were informed that these will be continued by a special Ordinance to be brought before the Legislative Council at its first meeting, until they are repeated by codifying Ordinances of the Council later.