One in Every Three

Europeans an Official Samoans Demand Some Replacements by Locals

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, May 1.

AT the last Legislative Council meeting the estimates for the current finan cial year were discussed, and the elected European and Samoan members again complained that the various Gov ernment Departments were overstaffed; and that New Zealand officials were em ployed where local men could well have been appointed.

Following the meeting, a number of vacancies now held by New Zealand civil servants who are shortly leaving the Ter ritory after completion of their terms, have been offered to local applicants.

IT is interesting to note that complaints regarding overstaffing were made as far back as 1908 under the German regime of Dr. Solf. At that time the German press strongly criticised the ex cessive number of German officials in Samoa, stating that the total number of white residents, including women and children was 473, while the number of civil servants, not including auxiliary personnel, was 38 (or one in every eight white males was an official;.

The number of native Samoan officials was also described as excessive. The total Administration expenditure amounted then to £50,000 and, under the circum stances, it was stated, only a very small proportion was available for cultural pur poses.

For comparison, in 1945, the number of white residents in the Territory was 359, of whom 207 were males, and the number of New Zealand officials 74. This means that out of every three white residents one is an official, now!

It must be pointed out, however, that the total population of the Territory has more than doubled during the period from 1908 to 1945, and that the number of part-Europeans is now more than five times as large as in 1908. Exports and imports have also doubled in value, and Government revenue in 1944-45 was £281,033, while expenditure amounted to £225,879.

In 1908, under the German Administra tion, as in 1945 under New Zealand, the Territory was self-supporting.