Silly Un Criticism Of W. Samoa Administration

Russia and Philippines Feel They Know the Answers

THE approach of some members of the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations to administrative problems in the South Pacific is about as realistic as that of a mid-Victorian spinster who spent her time making woollen shirts for African heathens. The idea of the Rus s*an member, of course, invariably is to make mischief.

Latest trusteeship to come under

Trusteeship Council review is that of Western Samoa, held by New Zealand, -i- or ? that occasion, the Russian and Philippines delegates had a considerable amount of criticism to make.

Acceding to the Philippines delegate, the industrialisation” of Samoa should be increased so that the indigenous popu lation would have a better standard of liv mg All Samoans “should be given the vote.

The Russian delegate considered that Western Samoa’s newly-created Legisla tive Assembly was merely advisory, and that it gave more representation to the Europeans in the Territory than to the Samoans. Nor did he believe in the tribal system which he described as undemo cratic, inferring that this should be rooted out, whether the Samoans them selves like it or not.

Both delegates spoke nonsense. For the Philippines delegate to suggest “in creased industrialisation,” is a confession of ignorance. None of the 70,000 Samoans in the Territory has the slightest desire for industrialism. They see no virtue in sustained labour for the sake of labour.

Their wants are taken care of by the production of cocoa, copra and bananas at which they work when, or if, they feel inclined, and if they have some specific needier cash in view.

The Soviet tilt at the advisory capacity of the Assembly is a typical piece of Red distortion. The Assembly can make ordinances for the “. . . peace, order and good government of Western Samoa and dispose of the revenues of the Territory.”

Only external politics are controlled by New Zealand. The so-called tribal-sys tem has been upheld by the New Zealand Government because it is the Samoan system, one that they understand and above all, the Samoans themselves want.

No doubt, the Soviet would consider it anti-Russian and destroy it. This, more than anything else, indicates its virtue.

The Russian claim that there are five Assembly members for 1,010 Europeans and only 11 for the 70,000 Samoans, is another distortion. There are fewer than 200 full Europeans in Western Samoa now. The five elected Euronean mem bers really represent about 5,000 Euro nesians (part European, part Samoan) who live as Europeans. The five mem bers in any event, are predominantly Euronesian.

In New Zealand, the Soviet representa tive’s criticism has been described as “mischief-making nonsense,” unworthy of serious detailed reply.