[?].S. Doubts About A United Samoa

Tripartition Question

IE ending of the arbitrary political partition which divides Western and Eastern Samoa, ussed as a future possibility in January PIM, is recognised as seful objective by a number of i South Pacific authorities. At same time, it is generally con id that, practical politics in the ted States being what they are, e is not much hope of anything factory happening in the near re. »w Zealand, as United Nations tee for Western Samoa, would lably be willing (under certain guards) to link her responsibil with those of the United States thus to become jointly respon for the reunited Samoans s one authority). But some ricans, still obsessed with out d ideas about British “colonial ’ would immediately start look for an “imperialist grab” some •e or other. 1946, when high chiefs of Western Samoa sent a petition ) the United Nations, through the Government, suggesting early government, there was some ; vague talk about a reunited oa. that time, however, various le at Washington went to a t deal of trouble to demon e to their own satisfaction that 1899 the Eastern (American) )ans had mysteriously become •ent people from the Western )ans, “who had been German 4 years and British for the rest le time.” Such an argument I not be accepted by Samoans 7 anybody else, but at least it ated the state of mind in some [uarters, the indications in Western )a are that the Administra ; objective has been, and is, to ;e political tension to enable 1 economic development to go 1 It is clear that the rapid ase of population—the total is more than 70,000 compared fewer than 20,000 in American >a —calls for a stepping up of al investment and capital de ment if production is to keep with the population increase.

Samoan “Controversy

Taken to NZ”

C Hon. P. L. Morgan, a member f the Western Samoan Legis itive Assembly, left Apia for Zealand in March after ex ing the hope that he would be itted to address members of the Parliament on the political Jon in Samoa.

Morgan has alleged that there

was “political scheming and bull dozing of delegates” at the November-December Constitutional Convention, of which he was a member.

At Wellington the Island Terri tories Minister (Mr. Macdonald) granted an interview to Mr. Morgan.

When NZ press reports of state ments attributed to Mr. Morgan were referred to the Minister, Mr.

Macdonald said that to his know ledge Mr. Morgan’s views did not reflect accurately the political situa tion in Western Samoa.

An Apia correspondent comments: “Mr. Morgan created a controversy by refusing to accept the rulings of the chairmen of the Convention, the High Commissioner and the Hon.

Tamasese, and subsequently left the Convention. There does not appear to be any evidence that in NZ he represents the views of any section of the European or Samoan popula tion of Western Samoa.”

Assistant PRO in Fiji

Mr. Philip Matthews, Adver

tising officer for Tasman Em pire Airways Ltd., has been appointed Assistant Public Relations Officer, Fiji in succession to Mr.

R. R. C. Caten, who resigned in 1953.

The Public Relations Officer (Mr.

L. G. Usher) will go on overseas leave at the end of May and will spend some time in the United Kingdom.

Lautoka’s Hotel Plan

rE proposed new hotel at Lautoka, Fiji, is planned for a site at the corner of Tavewa Avenue and Verona Street, almost opposite the Northern Club, said Mr. Reginald Grayson, of Casino, NSW, correcting an earlier report (Feb. FIM) that it was proposed to build the hotel opposite the Bank of NZ.

U Mr. Charles T. Poroi, who is man ager (and the Fils) of Messrs.

Alfred T. Poroi and Fils, import and export agents, of Tahiti, spent some weeks in Sydney recently.

Plans Made for 1956

Pacific Conference

MR. J. RYAN, Assistant Secretary- General of the South Pacific Commission, and Mr, M. G.

Collins, a member of the Com mission’s administrative staff, have been visiting Suva to discuss arrangements for the 1956 South Pacific Conference, which will be held in Fiji. (The first conference was held at Nasinu, Suva, in 1950).

Subjects for conference discussion will include economic education and industrial development, farming systems, co-operative societies and credit unions, the place of custom in the modern world, and infant and maternal welfare.

The Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission (Dr.

Ralph Bedell) spent several days in Fiji before going on to Sydney, en route to Noumea. He and Mrs.

Bedell left Sydney on April 13.

Air Services Expand in

Netherlands NG

FIFTEEN American Martin flying boats, including spare parts, have been bought by the Nether lands Government for service in Netherlands New Guinea. They will replace well-tried Catalinas.

The building and renovating costs of a flying-boat repair shop at Biak are estimated at £160,000.

The Netherlands New Guinea Air Transport Co. (De Kroonduif) will be founded on July 1. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will manage the new company, which will be operated with the assistance of the Dutch NG Government. The three DC3 air craft used by KLM in NG for a seven-town air network will be transferred to the new company, as will two de Havilland Beavers bought by the Government for incidental flights for administrative purposes. fl Memory of the late Mr. W. J.

Lambden, one of the most notable RM’s of the Hubert Murray regime in Papua, is revived by the an nouncement in Brisbane of the en gagement of his son, Mr. W. J. G.

Lambden, of Brisbane, to Miss C. E.

Cowderoy, of Southport. Mr.

Lambden, Senior, died young—his widow is now a resident of Sydney.