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Professional and technical advisers as well as officials of the Administering Authority continued to visit the Territory to give advice and assistance. Visits included those of— Sir Charles Hercus, Dean of the Medical School, Otago University. Dr. Muriel Bell, Senior Nutrition Officer, New Zealand Medical Research Council. Dr. E. Massal, Full-time Member for Health of the South Pacific Commission, Research Council. Dr. J. M. Cruikshank, Inspector-General, South Pacific Health Service. Mr. F. B. Rice, Assistant Director of Dental Hygiene, Department of Health. Mr. H. W. Simmonds, late Government Entomologist, Fiji Colony. Mr. L. J. Dumhleton, Entomologist, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr. A. L. Moore, Adviser on Visual Education for the Research Council of the South Pacific Commission. Mr. F. H. Beckett, Architect, Fiji. Miss M. P. Dennehy, Editor, Island Schools Publications, Education Department. Mr. F. R. J. Davies, Officer for Islands Education. Mr. A. W. Holland, Telegraph Engineer, Post and Telegraph Department. Mr. H. D. Kelly, New Zealand Public Service Commission. B. STATUS OF THE TERRITORY AND ITS INHABITANTS Status of the Territory Western Samoa is administered by New Zealand in accordance with the terms of a Trusteeship Agreement approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 13th December, 1946. New Zealand jurisdiction over Western Samoa has its origin in the decision of the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers on 7th May, 1919, to confer a mandate for the Territory upon His Britannic Majesty to be exercised on his behalf by the Government of New Zealand. The terms of this mandate were later confirmed by the Council of the League of Nations on 17th December, 1920. As a consequence of these events, the New Zealand Parliament made provision for the establishment of a form of government and a system of law in the Territory by the Samoa Act, 1921. This Act and its amendments, of which the most recent and most important are the Samoa Amendment Acts of 1947 and 1949, remains the foundation upon which the legal and political structures are built. The New Zealand Parliament still retains its inherent legislative power in respect of Western Samoa ; and the Samoa Aet, 1921, conferred on the Governor-General in Council the power to make regulations " for the peace, order, and good government " of the Territory. These powers are intended, however, as a safeguard for New Zealand's position as trustee, and not as the normal means of legislation. Although some explanation of the new political organization was given in the last report, the matter is of such importance that in this report the organization will again be explained. The High Commissioner The administration of the Executive Government is entrusted to the High Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand and responsible to the Minister of Island Territories. He is President of the Council of State and of the Legislative Assembly. He also presides at meetings of the Fono of Faipule which he attends. The High Commissioner has no " reserve " or emergency powers of his own. No Ordinance passed by the Legislative Assembly becomes law without his assent, and no Finance Bill disposing of public revenues may be passed by the Assembly except

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