A.—4b

The citizens felt a wholly nominated Council would not be representative of the people, and the provision was not at all appreciated. The first three non-official citizens nominated respectively declined to accept office. Ultimately two gentlemen accepted the nomination, and they continued in office until the end of 1923. Meanwhile the Government, recognizing the unpopularity of the Council as it was, amended the Act to allow for three members to be elected by the Europeans, and provision was made for the inclusion of .Native members. The residents, knowing of the success of the Legislative Council in Fiji on somewhat similar conditions, proved their appreciation of the amendment by the very keen interest taken in the first elections three years ago. There were, however, no Native members allowed. The second elections are now due, but meanwhile the people and their representatives have had three years' experience of the working of the Council, and the results are most disappointing and disheartening. Perhaps the superficial results might have appeared much more satisfactory had the elected members calmly submitted to the Government majority. But that does not make for good government in any democracy, more especially where the Government majority is not representative of the people, but have to act according to a policy made for them. The Council, for the sake of all concerned, needs urgent revision. The Samoans should be represented by members of their own choice. The total of the non-official members should not be less than six, or as many as the official members. The Administrator's casting-vote may always decide in favour of the Government, but in all matters where the elected members vote en bloc for or against any measure in opposition to the Government members, such measure should be subject to review and revision by the Minister. In Fiji there are ten official and ten unofficial members in the Legislative Council. The latter are made up of seven elected Europeans, two Fijians, and one Indian. Where the elected members vote en bloc in opposition to the Government members, the matter is referred to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, even though the Governor's casting-vote gives the Government a majority. We respectfully pray for these conditions to be applied in Samoa. (Since the above was typed, the elections have been held, and, despite great opposition, the same three members were returned with an overwhelming majority, thus showing the confidence of the people of Samoa in the policy set out in these reports as advocated by the elected members during their first term of office.) [Tbanslation.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.— SAMOAN REPORT. 1. The Samoans should be represented in the Legislative Council. These representatives should be selected by the Samoans themselves in an equitable manner. 2. So long as the Faipule is in existence they should be selected by the districts, as was done in former Governments. 3. There are too many laws altogether in this country, and the first duty of the Legislature is to repeal all the unnecessary and superfluous laws. These laws make criminals of people for committing acts which are not offences in other countries. Some of the penalties, especially to the Samoans, are unheard-of in other countries except where there is serfdom. 4. When the Samoans are represented in the Legislative Council the time should soon arrive when that Council might suffice as the one Legislature for the whole of Samoa. Apia, Samoa, December, 1926. REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. Population. The population of Samoa is 40,231, as stated in the report of the New Zealand Government on the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa published this year, 1926 (see page 9). The committee ask the attention of the citizens to a comparison of the statistics of Samoa with, the Islands of Fiji as taken from the Fiji Blue-book, 1925, and of the Tongan Islands, taken from the estimates for Tonga, 1926-27. The populations of the three Governments are respectively — Fiji, 169,431; Samoa, 40,231; Tonga, 27,000 (estimated by committee). These populations are comprised of the different peoples as here set forth :— Samoa. Fiji. Tonga. Polynesians or Fijians . . .. .. .. 36,688 90,209 25,000* Indians .. .. .. .. .. .. 68,136 Chinese .. .. .. .. .. .. 890 969 Other labourers .. . . .. .. .. 155 Solomon islanders and Rotuma boys .. .. .. .. 2,235 Fijian labourers .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,041 European and other nationalities .. .. .. 2,498 7,077 2,000* Total population .. .. ..40,231 169,667 27,000* * Estimated. These relative populations are to be kept in mind in the consideration of the relative revenues and expenditure.

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