Samoa Will
pp. 166-167 · Read in the full issue
Drastic Change In
Not Be Rushed
From Our Own Correspondent REPLYING to the recommenda tions made by the Western Samoan Constitutional Conven tion last year, the New Zealand Minister of Island Territories (Mr.
T. I. Macdonald) has expressed satisfaction, on behalf of the Dominion Government, that the Convention apparently saw no com pelling reason to depart substanti ally from the general pattern of political organisation outlined in the Prime Minister’s statement in March, 1953.
The official statement is in the main non-committal and gives no encouragement to those Samoans who expected an early transfer of political power and were impatient of any delay in obtaining the political concessions and changes envisaged in the 1954 White Paper.
The Acting High Commissioner called a joint meeting of Legislative Assembly members and the Fono of Faipule for June 29 and 30 to discuss the NZ Government’s reply and to prepare for a discussion with the Minister, who was scheduled to arrive at Apia on July 1.
With regard to the suffrage ques tion, on which the Convention re commended that in the Samoan constituencies only matai (chiefly heads of family groups) should have the right to vote or to be nomin ated as election candidates, the official reply states: “As this recommendation reflects the present wish of an overwhelm ing majority of the Samoan people, the NZ Government agrees. . . At the same time it points out that it does not share the misgivings of the Convention that a widening of the formal basis of political repre sentation would necessarily have harmful effects.
“On the contrary, it is of the opinion that Samoan custom, which, in the past, has shown itself capable of adjustment to the needs of a changing society, might thereby be strengthened and rendered more capable of meeting the challenge
vhich will inevitably face the (merging State.”
The NZ Government agrees that iltimately a Premier and Cabinet >f Ministers, all of whom should be nembers of the Legislature, will onstitute the Executive Branch of he Government.
It states, however, that it will be n the best interests of Samoa if, efore introducing Cabinet Govern ment, additional time is taken by he political representatives of the territory to acquire greater know- Jdge and understanding of the roblems of executive government efore full government responsibility ; assumed.
During the reorganisation period me High Commissioner should con nue to act as Chief Executive.
Meanwhile the possibility of mending the legislation to give the Western Samoan Government a tore direct voice in public service Dlicy matters is being examined.
The French naval patrol vessel iare, a popular visitor at Suva, died on July 18 en route from oumea to Wallis Island. The ship due back at Suva at the end July for her annual careening i the slip.