Tongan Assembly Passes

New Laws

From Our Own Correspondent

Nuku’Alofa, July 25.

rnHE 1946 session of the Tongan Legis- X lative Assembly was closed to-day.

Queen Salote Tupou was unable to attend the closing ceremony, and was re presented by Crown Prince Tupouto’a- Tungi, who read the Closing Address.

Among new enactments passed during the session was an amendment to the election law providing for nomination of candidates for the Legislative Assembly.

Hitherto electors could vote for anyone.

The amendment requires that nomina tion of each candidate shall be made by thirty or more electors on payment of a £5 deposit, to be refunded if a candidate receives 20 per cent, or more of the total votes for his electoral district. The bill also provides for the keeping of an elec toral roll for each electoral district.

Another measure enacted was an amendment to the marriage law author ising magistrates to solemnize marriages, which hitherto have been performed solely by minister of religion. Since Ton gans are notorious sticklers for estab lished practice and matters of form, the bill was stronely opposed. To their way of thinking this new departure is nothing less than sacrilege.

The ad valorem Customs duty was re duced from 20 per cent, to 15 per cent, for British goods, and from 40 per cent, to 33 1/3 per cent, for foreign goods. This was effected because the Estimates show the surplus of £33,337 for 1944-45.

Fieures for the 1946-47 Estimates show revenue and expenditure as £116,870 and £113.060 respectively. The main sources of revenue, as estimated, are Customs £59,500; native taxes, £14,000; and other branches £43,370.

The main heads of expenditure as esti mated are personal emoluments £47,176; other charges £43,119; and public works, £21,830. (The £1 note in Tonga is practically at par with New Zealand and Australian currency, which is 25 per cent, under sterling.)