Samoas Affars.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 23, Issue 31, 3 August 1923, Page 4

Samoas Affars.

Important amendments to the Samoa Constitution are set out in the amending bill which was introduced, in the New Zealand Legislative Council by Sir Francis Bell, a lew weeks ago. Intituted the "Samoa Amendment Bill," it provides for the appointment by the Governor-General of a Deputy-Administrator of Western Samoa and a secretary to the administration, who shall be the principal administrative officer of the Samoan Public Service. The Administrator may appoint, from time to time, faipules,or afono, inthe persons of Samoans, who shall constitute a council of advisers to the Administrator, who is to preside.

These Faipules, or the fouo, may consider matters of welfare of their own initiative, or as submitted to them by the Administrator, express opioi. ons and make recommendations.

, With respect to elective membership of the Legislative Council,'"the Governor-Gene-ral may amend the regulations prescribing the number, and the mode of election, of members, the qualifications of electors, the qualifications of candidates for election, the tenure of office of such members, and the forfeiture of such office. Nominated members of the council shall hold office during the Governor-General's pleasure, or for a term not exceeding five years. The penalty, for unlawful manufacture, importation, or sale of intoxicating liquor is to be or imprisonment of years, compared wit hj the former penalty of /"li.'" or three months' imprisonment. The concealment of liquor manufactured in breach of the above provision is to be penalised to the extent of or imprisonment for one year.