In Western Samoa

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Feb. 25.

MEMBERS of the Samoan Public Service have been granted salary increases, ranging from £5 to £5O per annum, and retro spective to July 1, 1952. The in creases are to compensate for the increased cost of living.

European and Samoan members of the Legislative Assembly have nominated their representatives on the newly-established Executive Council—Hon. G. F. D. Betham as European member, and Hons.

Tualaulelei, Te’o Leutele and Mataia as Samoan members. Besides these, there will be 3 official mem bers appointed by the High Com missioner, and two Fautua.

The new Samoa College at Vaivase, near Apia, has enrolled 227 pupils for the primer classes. The initial roll of the secondary classes is 50.

Some 150 were enrolled in the primer classes at Malifa and Ifiifi Government schools. The latter are reserved for Apia children, while the College enrols only children from outside districts who are boarders.

A former employee of the Gov ernment-owned NZ Reparation Estates, John Parsons, 53, was charged in the High Court with theft (10 charges) obtaining money under false pretences (3 charges) and forgery (1 charge), while in charge of the NZRE lumber shed at Apia. He was found guilty on 4 charges of theft and fined £l3O.

A remarkable scene was enacted when, at the end of the trial, the wife of the accused knelt before the Chief Judge and pleaded for mercy for her husband.

West Samoa’s representatives at South Pacific Conference in April are Hons. Tualaulelei Mauri and Te’o Satele Leutele (MLA), and Gatoloai Peseta Sio and Maualaivao Sunu (Fono of Faipule). They de part for Noumea, via Suva, by plane, on April 4.

Mr. John Cramer-Roberts, man ager of the Dolphin Mine, Vatu koula, Fiji, returned home on the Matua on February 10, after some weeks in New Zealand. Mrs. Cramer- Roberts is holidaying in Victoria.