Study of Hands in Western Samoa

have never resented criticism of our trusteeship administration where such criticism has paid due regard to the governing conditions in which our efforts have to be made £ furtherance of the objectives of «TTr rusteeshlp system,” he added.

We have sometimes reacted sharply against criticism which appeared to us to be exaggerated ana ill-balanced and having a tend £cy discredit the administering authority and thus reduce its effectiveness.”

The Trusteeship Council’s report >tates that the council “notes with i&tisf action” the growth of existing julage councils, but it expresses concern at the reluctance of the i?P le in some areas to accept the esponsibility of local government.

THE council recommends that Australia should try to develop a sense of responsibility among ne more energetic and intelligent

elements of the population par ticularly in the less advanced areas where no village councils exist.

It approves the Administration s programme for increasing the par

ticipation of the indigenous popula tion in the economic life of the territory.

The report notes the large direct grants made by Australia (£18,000,000 since 1945) and that no direct taxes are levied, except those by village councils to cover local expenditures.

(Continu«d on Page 132)

The New Zealand Minister of Island Terri tories (the Hon. T. L. Macdonald) greeted by orators of the village of Falefa, Upolu, during a visit to Western Samoa. It is 41 years since troops from the Dominion occupied the islands at the outbreak of World War I.

Western Samoa, now United Nations trustee ship territory, is well on the way to ultimate full self-government. —Photo by D. E. Ross.

It expresses the hope that Au tralia will bear in mind the dl sirability of introducing dire* taxation at the earliest possit time.

The council maintains that all t people of the territory shou! according to their means, contribu directly towards the cost of its ai ministration.

The report repeats the counci previous recommendation that cc poral punishment be abolished.

BEFORE the adoption of the 11 port, the Soviet delegate fail in an attempt to alter the ai ministration of New Guinea.

Mr. Vasily Grubyakov called 1 the establishment of “separate leg: lative and administrative gover ments not subject to any neighboi ing colony.”

The resolution was lost 4-6. Ind Syria and El Salvador supported fl Soviet, Meanwhile, at Canberra, on Jt 14, the Indonesian Embassy stat that Indonesia’s dispute with t Netherlands over Netherlands N Guinea would continue, “proba with more intensity.”