N.Z. ADMINISTRATION OF WESTERN SAMOA PRAISED BY U.N.O.

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 October 1948, Page 5

N.Z. ADMINISTRATION OF WESTERN SAMOA PRAISED BY U.N.O.

LONDON, Oct. 28 (Rec. 6pm).— During discussion by the fourth committee of the United Nations on th£ report of the Trusteeship Council many delegates praised the New Zealand administration in Western Samoa and the willingness of the New Zealand Government to co-operate with and assist the council A Cuban claim had been made to the sole right to decide the political future of Western Samoa, but New Zealand had invited the United Nations mission to visit the territory and make an impartial investigation without waiting to bo asked. This was a wonderlul example of mutual co-operation which set a splendid precedent.

The New Zealand delegate (Mr. Thorn) acknowledged the assistance given to the New Zealand Government by the Trusteeship Council and by the visiting mission which went to Western Samoa last year. He pointed out that the visiting mission’s report had been completed only 12 months ago. and that within that time New Zealand had already carried out many of the mission’s recommendations, as well as introducing other measures, not only in the political field and advancement of the Samoan people towards self-govern-ment, but also in the fields of education, health and economics.