Prosperous Samoa
p. 126 · Read in the full issue
More Funds for Social Services
APIA, April 20.
IT was indicated, when the Legis lative Assembly was in budget session, that Western Samoa this year may spend over £1,000,000 on its general services. In addition, there will be substantial expendi ture on capital works.
The latter will include port im provements in Apia, an aerial sur vey of the whole territory, and the completion of a hydro-electric in stallation on the Vaisigano River, designed to produce 1,000 kilowatts.
As the result of continued good trading conditions, the Territory’s revenues are booming; and most of the new money is going back into social services. The proposed ex penditure on education and health, £286,000, exceeds the whole of the 1947 budget.
There are 20,000 children between 7 and 15 in W. Samoa. At present, 17,000 are being educated in gov ernment and mission schools. The Director of Education, Mr. K. R.
Lambie, is considering a compulsory system, so that all children in this age group may be educated.
There has been strong criticism of the failure of the Public Service Commissioner to publish, during the
past three years, a complete classi fied list of all members of the Public Service of Western Samoa.
Members of the Assembly argue that control of the Public Service should be vested in the Samoan Government instead of in the NZ Minister for Territories. This change is now provided for in the new policy just issued by New Zealand.
U Soon to go on leave to Britain via Canada, are Dr. Leon Achmato wicz and his wife. He has served three years in Fiji as surgeon at Suva and at Lautoka. He will be much misssed in Lautoka, where his skill and devotion to his patients earned him high praise from all races.