Constitutional Rights

[?]er to the Editor

Constitutional Rights W. Samoa’s MLA’s

our October issue you published n article, “Slang-whanging in V. Samoa,” dealing with the r debates of the Legislative cil during the September n. May I point out that it is constitutional right and duty embers of the Assembly, as of iers of Parliament of all iratic countries of the world, ticise shortcomings and errors Dvernment policy, even while acknowledging the good work •med by the Government in (olitical, social and economic statements made during the e by Samoan and European i members were statements of and nobody intended, as was r expressed during the debates, ike an attack on the Public e as such, in spite of the at by the Government speakers 3-track the issue, as further stressed during the >ion that with the inaugura f the member system and the over of Ministerial respon es by elected representatives Samoan people, it was con y expected that many of the of the past could and would tided. irresponsible remarks by the of the local paper whose on Samoan policy are sup only by a small group of itled Europeans cannot be cred as representative of any of Samoan or European opinion.

I further point out that my motion was lost by 11 ;o six, four members of the )ly abstained and two were Of the 11 negative votes, 4 le votes of official members, suit was that of 17 elected rs present only 7 voted the motion, state at the conclusion of eport that only two or three d Europeans are now left in

ci Samoa, Apparently you

ull Europeans, but the Euro elected members of the ly represent a European ion of approximately 5,000 30 per cent, of whom are )rn Europeans.

I am, etc.,

A. M. Gurau.

V. Samoa. , 1956.

Joan Hart, Miss Betty and Mrs. Elsie Barton from Port Moresby in the early in December on a trip to Japan.