POLL TAX ABOLISHED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 1

POLL TAX ABOLISHED

Samoan Policy Changed FINAL WORD UNTIL MAU REFORMS TILE abolition of the poll-tax and the substitution of a charge for medical services and a higher tax on copra exports is announced in a statement on the Government’s Samoan policy. A conference in Apia between the native leaders and the Administration is promised as soon as the Jlau ceases its defiance of the law. These decisions are an outline of the recent visit to New Zealand of the Administrator of Western Samoa. Mr. S. S. Allen. Press Association

WELLINGTON, To-day. A T New Plymouth to-day the Prime Minister announced the decisions o£ the Government with regard to Samoa. The Prime Minister said the present ; Government was not responsible for any of the occurrences of the past, j nor did it propose to discuss them. Cabinet had already made it plain, both in New Zealand and in Samoa, that it was anxious to adopt a generous and conciliatory attitude with a view to a conference in Apia, and the final and satisfactory settlement of the whole dispute, but that it could not negotiate with any movement openly flouting the law. That attitude is still maintained and will be continued. All that the Mau is required to do to obtain sympathetic consideration of any representations is to cease its defiance of the law, but as the Mau has shown no indication of a desire to adopt this sensible course, the Government has been obliged to consider what action will be taken, and, after consultation with the Administrator, it has decided upon the following policy: (1) To dispense with the native personal tax of £2 a head a year for chiefs and 36s a year for other male adult Samoans.

(2) To make a small charge (having due regard to the cost of service and to the capacity of the patient to pay) for one of the activities of the Administration which the personal tax was designed in some degree to cover, namely, medical and surgical treatment. (3) To increase the preseut export tax upon copra from £1 a toil to 30s a ton. At the same time the Government and the Administration will, of course, continue to enforce the law whenever this is necessary, and native personal taxes at present due and unpaid will remain as debts to the Adminstration and will be collected as opportunity offers. This statement is made neither as a threat nor as a promise, but merely as a plain indication of the fixed intention of the Government, and it is the Government’s final statement on its Samoan policy until the Mau renders reconsideration possible. The Government wishes it to be understood that it will not deviate from the policy now decided upon until the Mau has the wisdom to cease from defiance of the law. In making this announcement the Government wishes to express its appreciation of the loyal and helpful attitude of a considerable section of the Samoans, and to make it plain that the interests of these people will, in no circumstances, be lost sight of.