REFORM IN SAMOA

Waipa Post, Volume 38, Issue 2271, 21 February 1929, Page 8

REFORM IN SAMOA

•COMMISSION'S INDICTMENT. (By Telegraph. Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Wednesday. Following- criticism of the Samoan Administration, the Coates Government sent down to Apia as a commis-sion.-Messrs P. Verschaffelt (Civil Service Commissioner), A. D. Park (assistant secretary of the Treasury) > and C. A. Berendsen (liaison officer of the Imperial Affairs Department of the Premier's office) —all New Zealand officials—to investigate Samon public service and make a report to the New Zealand Government. The report, which has now been released for publication, says that the Samoan service, as it exists to-day, is by no means creditable to New Zealand, and that urgent and drastic action is neqessary. Far reaching reforms are advocated and many departments are criticised. ' WELLINGTON, Wednesday. "The recommendations of the committee will be carried out as soon as possible," said the Prime Minister, Sir

Joseph Ward, to-day, when discussing the report on Samoa. "The whole matter has received a lot of consideration," added Sir Joseph. "We have had the report since we have been in office. The Cabinet decided that we would accept the recommendation and carry them out generally. There may be. of course, some instances where we will find it impracticable to do sfo, and we will have to be guided by the effectiveness of the whole proposals. "We are satisfied that the state of affairs in Samoa is such that we have to protect the interests of New Zealand," concluded Sir Joseph.