Official Opening By NZ

Samoa’S New

Assembly

Official Opening By NZ Prime Minister

THE New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr.

Frazer, who was supported by a party of members of Parliament and Government officials, formally opened the first session of the Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa.

The Assembly takes the place of the old Legislative Council, and its consti tution is described by New Zealand as a new step forward in the gradual pro cess of conferring self-government upon the Samoans.

The Assembly is composed of the Ad ministrator, who acts as president; the three Fautua (leading chiefs of Samoa); 11 members nominated by the Fono of Faipule (an advisory body representing the common people of Samoa); five re presentatives of the European commu nity, elected under adult suffrage; and six official members (mostly heads of departments).

The five Europeans, who were elected at the end of Aoril, are; E. F. Paul, J.

Helg, G. D. F, Betham, A. Stowers, W.

Stowers. They really represent the Euronesian community of about 5,000, who have the status of Europeans. There are only about 200 full Europeans now remaining in Western Samoa. Voting was:

Elected

Eugene F. Paul (UCP) 568 Jacob Helg (UCP) 510 Fred Betham (UCP) 468 Amando Stowers (Lab.) 436 Willie Stowers (UCP) 383

Not Elected

A. M. Gurau (Lab.) 342 Sammy Meredith (UCP) 330 Emil Fabricius (Lab.) .. 226 G. J. Pritchard (Lab.) 129 P. L. M. Morgan (Ind.) 118 D. Crichton (Lab.) 75