Fono Tackles Samoa's Problems With

Vigour

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, October 1 THE 1946 meeting of the Fono of Faipule has just taken place. The meeting, the first under the chair manship of the new Administrator, Colonel F. W. Voelcker, was one of the shortest on record, due to an appeal by the Administrator to confine the discus sions to essentials.

A large number of important remits and problems were discussed. The deli berations were characterised by a sincere spirit of friendly co-operation, and help ful and constructive advice and sugges tions on the side of the Samoan repre sentatives.

The latter were obviously impressed by the honest and straightforward attitude of the Administrator, who is giving the Samoans’ requests a full hearing and, whenever possible, complies with sensible and justified demands.

The following is a resume of the more important matters discussed.

New Roads

The New Zealand Government has argeed to make available £50,000 out of the accumulated profits of the New Zea land Reparations Estates for building new roads in Upolu and Savaii, particu larly the round-the-island coast road on Upolu.

Last Of The Chinese

Of about 200 remaining Chinese in dentured labourers (plantation workers'* some 120 want to return to China after the Peace Conference. The remaining 80 Chinese indentured labourers, who want to remain in Samoa, are mostly married to Samoan women, and have numerous offspring. The Fono at first objected to these 80 Chinese staying in the Ter ritory; but later agreed to their stay provided that thev continue working on European plantations and are barred from buying land or starting in business.

Samoan Produce

An application by the Fono, that the Administration purchase copra and cocoa-beans direct from the Samoans, was commented upon by the Adminis

trator, who pointed out that the Gov ernment at present strictlly controlled the prices paid by the merchants to the producers and that the Samoans would be no better off if the Government took over the purchase of copra and cocoa.

If. however, at some future time, the necessity should arise, the Government would reconsider the matter.

Legal Conflict

Steps are to be taken to move surplus Samoan population from Apia back to the country districts. Samoans living at

present in Apia, will have to prove that they are usefully employed.

Back To The Country

Steps will be taken to solve a legal conflict between Samoan custom and European law. Village councils (Alii ma Faipule) have, according to Samoan cus tom, the right to banish offenders

against village laws from the village; while European law does not recognise such a right of the village councils and conseqeuntly the police have in some cases assisted banished Samoans to re turn to their villages.

Samoan Displaces English

A radical change in educational policy has been made in teaching all subjects in Samoan primary schools in the Sam oan language, and treating the English language as just another subject.

The Same Price

Samoan-produced first grade cocoa beans are to be paid for (to native producers and traders) at the same rate as European plantation cocoa, if the quality is equal.

Department Of Agriculture

An Agricultural Department is to be re-established soon. * Outside activities will be in charge of a Samoan Director

of Agriculture, and a Samoan staff, some of the members of which are to be trained at the Fiji Agricultural School.

An Agricultural research station will be founded, with an expert scientist of tropical agriculture at its head, who will co-operate with the Agricultural Depart ment and conduct an experimental plantation.

Goodwill Mission

A delegation of four Faipule is to pay a visit to New Zealand, early next year, at the invitation and expense of the New Zealand Government, as a kind of “Goodwill Mission.”

Miss Joan Cherry, of Fairfield, Brisbane, left recently by air for Port Moresby where she has been appointed to the staff of the Commonwealth Disposals Commission. She was formerly in the Commonwealth Crown Law Office.