A—4

Authority, and the relevant amendment is contained in the Samoa Amendment Act, 1949. The Fono of Faipule met in March, 1950, to elect the twelfth member, and on this occasion adopted a strict procedure of secret ballot. The European members are chosen by secret ballot under a system of adult suffrage. All adults possessing European status who have resided in the Territory for a period of one year preceding the elections are eligible to vote, regardless of nationality. Three of the official members are appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand and three by the High Commissioner. The jurisdiction granted by the Samoa Amendment Act, 1947, to the Legislative Assembly makes it in effect an autonomous Sovereign assembly in so far as concerns domestic matters within the Territory. It has full financial authority (subject to the powers of the High Commissioner as already referred to), and its power to make laws is limited only by the provisions, first, that it may not legislate with reference to defence, external affairs, or Crown land, and second, it may not pass any legislation repugnant to certain named reserved enactments which probably make up what might be regarded as the Constitution of Western Samoa. These enactments comprise mainly parts of the Samoa Act, 1921, and its amendments, certain legislation relating to the New Zealand Reparation Estates, and the regulations relating to the appointment of the Fautua and the election of the Assembly itself. Committees of the Assembly As previously reported, the Assembly formed four standing Committees, the Finance Committee, the Health Committee, the Public Works Committee, and the Education Committee, each of which consists of three Samoan members, one European, and one official member. These Committees have met regularly throughout the year, and their meetings are summarized on page 8. The question of appointing a chairman was left to each Committee to determine for itself, with the then indication that it might not be desirable to appoint the official member. The Health and Education Committees, however, decided to appoint the heads of their respective services as their chairmen, and this arrangement has undoubtedly worked extremely well. The Committees have been given an insight into the working of the Government, and have themselves given contributions of no mean value. The Finance and Public Works Committees each appointed Samoan members as chairmen. The Public Works Committee has perhaps not made as much progress as the others, partly due to the absence from the Territory of some of its important members, and also due partly to the varied details and technical nature of the operations of the Public Works Department. The Finance Committee is proving a wholly desirable institution, and as it is concerned with practically all major policy questions the High Commissioner has on occasion found it useful to attend meetings in person and to discuss such questions with the members. The Fono of Faipule The Fono of Faipule was formed in 1905 by the German Administration to provide a link between the Government and the people of the outer districts. Its members were regarded as Government officials, and were required to attend two sessions of the Fono each year at Mulinu'u to give advice to the Government and between sessions to act as Government representatives in their districts. Under the New Zealand Administration, the Fono of Faipule was continued, and for the first time it was given statutory recognition. The Samoa Amendment Act, 1923, as amended, gave the Fono of Faipule a statutory right " to consider such matters relative to the welfare of the Samoan people as of their own initiative they think proper or as may be submitted to them by the High Commissioner and to express their opinions and made their recommendations to the High Commissioner." In addition, by a custom which has developed over a period of

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