Samoan Tradition
pp. 53-55 · Read in the full issue
Samoan Self-Government Will Be Based On
LY slight amendments to the proposals of New Zealand for a jlan of constitutional develop ; for Western Samoa (March ) were made in a recent joint on of the Fono of Faipule loan Parliament) and the Legis -3 Assembly of Western Samoa, e meeting of the two repre itive bodies took place in Apia sen February 20 and March 1. e only dissenting voice, oppos all resolutions passed by the representative bodies, was that iropean elected member P. L. M. an. His opposition to every i toward self-government con d in the NZ proposals some > led to stormy scenes, e first step towards self-gov lent is to be undertaken this —the addition of two elected jers of the Legislative Assembly ie Executive Council, one to be sd by the European elected bers of the Assembly and one id by the Samoan elected mem- These, together with the pre- Members of Executive Council European and three Samoan) with the official members of Executive Council, become re sible for Government Depart s allotted to them by the High nissioner. e second step in Constitutional opment will be taken in 1957 the election of the new House jpresentatives, probably in Sep sr, 1957. This body is to replace present Legislative Assembly the Fono of Faipule and is to st of 41 Samoan, five European :wo official members, lowing the election of the new ament, Ministerial Government be established with the ative Council functioning as a cil of Ministers. The High nissioner and the two present aa (High Chiefs Tamasese and itoa) would cease to be mem of the new legislature, which 3 be presided over by a Speaker 3d by the House and led by a r of Government business, e third and final step would be i not earlier than 1960 and 1 implement the introduction of Cabinet Government with a ier presiding over the Council inisters and leading the Legis e. The High Commissioner and 7 autua would no longer attend ngs of the Council of Ministers, i would thus become a Cabinet.
Jetail the proposals as accepted by the ession of Legislative Assembly and Fono LEGISLATURE: A single legislature will ■ the present two bodies in 1957. The tore is to be elected every three years, lower to dissolve the legislature in riate circumstances is to be vested in
the Head of State, or, until this Head is established, in the High Commissioner. • SUFFRAGE: Suffrage in Samoan con stituencies to be limited to Samoan "matais" (family heads) and only "matais" to be candidates for election. European members elected by universal franchise as at present. • CONSTITUENCIES: The number of Samoan members of the new legislature to be in creased from 41 to 45 to allow for population variations. • HEAD OF STATE; It was again agreed that the present Honourable Fautua (High Chiefs Tamasese and Malietoa) be the joint Heads of State, acting together and with equal
power. Their term should be for life with provision to permit either or both of them to resign at any time. Future vacancies of Head of State to be decided by the Parlia ment of Western Samoa when the time comes. (The New Zealand proposals doubted the wisdom of having more than one person as Head of State and also pointed out that it would be advisable to have the Head of State appointed for a fixed term instead of for life). • EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT; An amendment on the NZ proposal for establishment of Cabinet Government, provided that the Premier may be removed by a majority of Parliament on any matter of confidence (instead of a two-thirds majority originally proposed).
• Control Of Public Services: The
transfer to the Samoan Government of the control of the Western Samoan Public Service envisages the appointment of a Public Service Commissioner to be appointed during the first two stages of constitutional development by
ew Zealand Government, as at present, the third and final stage by the Samoan ment.
JUDICIARY; It was agreed that the ’ practice, whereby the Chief Judge is ted by the New Zealand Government, continue for an indefinite period and » change in the method of appointment Chief Judge should take place at least duration of the first and second steps.
Ommon Domestic Status Of Inhabi-
This is still in the hands of a committee which has been deliberating considerable period without reaching
definite conclusions and recommendations on the subject.
• Relationship With New Zealand: The
form of the final relationship of Western Samoa to New Zealand to be determined at a later stage when constitutional development is more advanced, it will probably be based on an agreement or alliance similar to the arrange ment at present existing between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Tonga. There will be a representative of New Zealand residing in Western Samoa, the status, powers and functions of this representative de pending upon the exact nature of the relation ship between the two countries.