Democracy

The Samoans and Democracy Self Government “by the End of 1954”

r STERN Samoa’s so-called De velopment Plan, under which Samoans will eventually take Dver the complete government of Jheir country, was given a lengthy firing during a debate in the Legislative Assembly during Oc tober.

From the views expressed by the najority of Samoan members, it is ;lear that a wide difference of ipinion exists between the Samoans md the New Zealand Government is to what democratic government s and how it should function. The Eon. Tamasese and the Hon.

Vlalietoa, in particular, made it dear that they are strongly opposed ;o any other form of government han that in force at present. They iiffered sharply with the New Zea and interpretation of democracy is defined in the UN Declaration of Inman Rights and as outlined by he High Commissioner, Mr. Powles, md by some other Members.

Most outspoken in favour of a jontinuation of the present Matai ystem of representation, was the lon. Mr. Moors. “Samoa does not ear Democracy. She has it, she ives it, she loves it, she practises t,” he said. “That universal suf tage is enjoyed by the Samoan >eople to-day cannot be denied, de ipite many expert reports to the :ontrary. Every man and woman akes part in the election of a natai, in a ballot by open, oral ixpression.”

Replying to an implied sugges ion by the Hon. Malietoa that New Zealand might be trying to divide he Samoans against themselves, he High Commissioner said, “I pant to express my very deep re ;ret that any responsible member if this Assembly or any Samoan eader should think that under the iresent circumstances, because lothing is further from the truth.” rhe very reverse was the desire of Europeans in the Territory and of he New Zealand Government, said tfr. Powles.

The debate was eventually post toned until the next session of the Assembly in March, 1954.

Earlier it was made evident that he Samoan leaders could see no ;rounds on which self-government night be delayed beyond the orig nal target date—the end of 1954. ?he Samoans themselves might not le educationally equipped to take •ver all phases of the administra ion, but where experts and skilled >ersonnel from overseas were re tired they could be hired by the iamoan Government, said the Hon.

Eamasese.

Some other speakers took the view that economic independence must come before political independence. Most members seemed ready to admit that there is slight prospect of economic independence by the end of next year.

The debate was useful in that it made clearer to the general public the difficulties that lie ahead.

The Samoa Legislative Assembly adjourned the present session on October 21. The next will be in March, 1954.

U Returning to Papua on the No vember Soochow were Mr. and Mrs.

Michael Healy. Mr. Healy is Dis trict Commissioner at Samarai, and he and Mrs. Healy have had four months’ leave in Australia, where they toured Queensland, NSW, and part of Victoria by car. Mrs. Healy is President of the recently formed CWA branch at Samarai and is a very active worker. Already this Association has raised a consider able sum of money towards building a CWA Hall.