British Preference

[?] W. Samoa Asssembly in Session:

British Preference Tariff to Remain

JJRITISH Preferential Tariff,

the proposed abolition of /hich caused a good deal of pposition in New Zealand and English trading circles earlier in le year, is to be retained in

Western Samoa.

This was one of the decisions of le new Legislative Assembly at its rst business session in August eptember.

Preferential tariff has been the ibject of financial sub-committee id departmental inquiry for some jars. It first received publicity in te 1953 when NZ’s delegate to UN dd that NZ had made the way ear for the abolition of preference Samoa because the majority of rnioans desired it.

There followed a storm of critic al from British exporters and the bole matter has since been in spense, awaiting the attention of e W. Samoan Legislative Council.

During the recent session approval is given for easing rates of istoms tariff on certain essential ods and foodstuffs. This is de nned to lower the cost of living.

The session was marked by the •ong opposition of a majority of iropean and Samoan members to l e suggested establishment of hour Unions and a Labour De rtment, and to what was de •ibed as the hasty action of the I Government in instituting, with t the approval of the Assembly, plan whereby the four unofficial imbers become associates of the rious heads of government de rtments and members of the inding Committees of the Legis ive Assembly, sharing between ;m 32 portfolios in association h the three official members— ; Secretary, Treasurer, and At ney-General. lie Labour Bill was based on a ommendation recently submitted an adviser from the New Zea d Department of Labour and ployment. The majority of mem s considered that as there is only mall permanent labour force in Samoa, the elaborate plan was :alled for and that an Arbitra i and Wage Board and a Work- Compensation Act would meet needs of the situation. The Bill ; withdrawn following debate and amended Bill, still considered un sfactory, was referred to a Select nmittee for investigation. motion supporting the reintro tion of a measure whereby cer

tain village Chiefs will be em powered to see that copra and cocoa quality is maintained at a satis factory level by local producers, was approved by a majority vote.

Educational policy recommenda tions made in a recent report bv Dr. Beeby, Director of Education in New Zealand, were, after discussion held over for action at next session.

Against the strong opposition of country members, a motion to establish a new telephone system was approved. The expenditure was opposed by country members on the ground that their areas would not be served by the system in the for seeable future.

A Bill to prohibit the export of Samoan antiquities, fine mats, etc.

to countries other than American Samoa was debated and will be considered further at next session.

A select committee was appointed to consider the provision of funds the ei : ec £ io n of a new building at Muhnu u to house the Legislative Assembly and the Land and Titles oourt.

Figures were given by the Treasurer in the course of the session which indicated that esti mated copra and banana exports for 1954 will probably be exceeded, though, due to adverse weather con ditions, the valuable cocoa crop will probably fall short. For the first 7 months 1100 tons had been shipped as compared with 1350 tons in the same period last year