ON TUITION.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 23, Issue 33, 17 August 1923, Page 5

ON TUITION.

Speech by General Riciardson. His Excellency the Administrator of Western Samoa made some interesting and thoughtful remarks In the course of his summing-up of the pros and cons of argument advanced* in the debate of the Accountants Students' Society (concerning taxation) reported in another column of to-day's Times. In giving his decision in favour of the side which urged that the present system of taxation should be maintained, General Richardson remarked: — "It is very gratifying to me to see that the people of Samoa take such a lively interest in civic matters. Meetings of this kind do a great deal of good and enable citizens to take a more intelligent interest in the administration, or government of their country. The subject of taxation is of vital interest to all of us, for if the method of taxation is arbitrary and unequal it discourages enterprise; if the methods are antiquated, our progress is retarded. lam not of the opinion that the system of taxation in Samoa retards progress or in any way prevents commercial enterprise, but I do consider that the present system could be modified with advantage. I object to recommend any revision of our taxation until the people have direct representation on the Administration. The struggle in England has always been for the control of the public purse by the people, while in the American colonies it was for no taxation without adequate representation. The Samoa Amendment BUI now before the New Zealand Parliament provides for you getting proper representation, and as soon as this bill becomes law you will have an opportunity of electing representatives who will help to revise your taxes.. But you must remember that systems of taxation all over the world are corstantly •and rapidly changing, nid tx.ai ideal systems are hard to reah, • With the co-operation of citizens we Should be able to bring about system suitable to the needs of this .country. Samoa is in a backward 'state of development and needs SS things. But there are very Swtbipgt which I am asked to do

which can be done without resort to taxation. The more the people ask the Government to do for development, the more they will have to pay in taxation— except for such works as are reproductive. "We must not forget that the Natives are the backbone of this country—and we need money to help them to develop. It is our duty to help them, for we cannot expect them to pay in taxation for all their needs in regard to roads, bridges, boat passages, medical and educatioa. Development of land and greater production will increase the wealth of this country and are the urgent things for the moment. To increase our production we must do all we can to promote the interests of the producers—who are the .Natives, private planters, and Crown Estates. If we wish the country to develop faster than it is now doing, more capital must be brought into the country. The cost of living is fairly high, but we are not carrying the burdens which the people of the old world are doing, atid in that respect we have much to be thankful for.