Western Samoa

News Items From

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Sep. 2.

HP H E Western Samoan Legislative Assembly had a short session in mid-August to discuss the Supplementary Estimates for 1953 and give a First Reading to a number of Bills. The session was then adjourned until Sep tember 21, when High Chief Tupua Tamasese is expected to have returned from his trip to England as Western Samoan representative at the Coronation.

There has been strong criticism of Apia’s water supply in recent weeks. The water has been discoloured, presumably during excavations in the upper course of the Vaisigano River for the new Hydro- Electric Scheme at Avele.

The Director of Health says that there is no danger to the public, but consumers urge that immediate steps be taken to ensure a clean supply of water.

The Apia Turf Club’s Flag Raising Day Race Meeting, on August 29, was poorly attended though weather conditions were perfect and good sport was offered.

At the start of the main race of the day, the imported mare, Miss Raven, owned by Mr. R. H. Carruthers, threw her jockey and gave a solo performance, galloping four times round the track and ending in an exhausted condition; she had to be scratched from the race. The main race, the Charles Roberts Memorial Cup, was won by Mrs. C. Carruthers’

Imported horse Saville Row.

The District and Village Government Bill which will come before the September session of the Legislative Assembly, was explained by the Hon. Tualaulelei during ihe August preliminary session of the Issembly.

The Bill will confer a large degree of esponsibility on district and village suthorities under the control of a central •card; they are to have charge of district md village water supplies, health, education and other local concerns and hould take a great deal of preliminary rork over from the central government.

A large new banana shed, to cost £21,121, is to be erected near the present Customs export shed to relieve the grow ing congestion of waterfront facilities.

The new building will accommodate the offices of the Agricultural Department and the Public Service Commissioner’s Office.

An exceptionally large cocoa crop is expected during September-Qctober, and Apia sheds will be hard put to it to accommodate it while it awaits shipment.

Articles which have appeared in the New Zealand weekly “Truth,” criticising the Samoan Government and the High Commissioner over Coronation Medal awards and lack of hospitality extended to the visiting French warship “Tiare,” have caused annoyance in official circles.

While there are important grounds for

criticism of Government policy and Government spending, the public here is certainly not worried about bestowal of medals nor does it long for more cock tail parties and more public entertain ments.

As it is, there are far too many gay parties going on as well as the numerous church openings, school openings, hospital openings and other similar occasions which form the basis of massed gather ings in the “Fa’a Samoa” style and are very often only an excuse for collecting large amounts of money. fl Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna and Lady Maraia returned to Fiji at the end of September after attending the Coronation in London. Homeward bound, they visited the First Bat talion in Malaya.

Typical Papuans—Two girls from a Motuan village. —Photo by Dr. K. W. Todd.