of W. Samoa

Ort To

Territory

of W. Samoa urns from NZ

' NZ High Commissioner in festern Samoa, Mr. G. R. owles, returned recently to from six weeks official trip to Zealand and, after discussion \he Executive Council on some e more important aspects of sit, reported as follows:

Lining Samoans: Samoans

) be trained in the Samoan Office and possibly in New id for employment in the Office. important problem of agri al training for selected boys sstern Samoa was discussed ae NZ authorities. It is planned ablish a large regional agri il Training School in Western . and the Avele Boys’ Agri il College near Apia may form cleua of the new school which erve other Island Territories, ng neighbouring American . It appeared that all the iries and particularly Ameri amoj?. were enthusiastic and here was every chance that Dject would go ahead as soon financial considerations in were agreed upon. The new should be ready to commence lortant work next year at the

Son With American

Mr. Powles conferred with :or Coleman, of American during his stay at Pago Pago tions between the two Terri- One of the topics discussed 5 remission of the processing levied in USA on foreign- Jd copra; this affects ex f Western Samoan copra to A.

Sing And Finance: A

il survey is to be made in i Samoa by a team of high a 1 s of the New Zealand y, the NZ Reserve Bank and ik of New Zealand, probably . The proposals would in he setting up of a “Board nee” and the establishment lank of Western Samoa” by e of the local Branch of the : New Zealand at Apia.

INA PRICES; Mr. Powles ed the recent increase in the bananas. He also pointed lesirability of wiring banana to safeguard them from and of using locally-made cases. He also stated that damage was done to banana r rough handling at Apia.

Ish H-Bomb Test: Mr.

was given assurances in on regarding the coming tests at Christmas Island,

stating that the Samoan people were in absolutely no danger what soever. No heavy fall-out was in volved, the tests would take place far from inhabited islands and would be so arranged as to avoid danger to persons and property and contamination of fish. Similar as surances were given to the Gov ernor of American Samoa by the US Navy.

Visit Of Nz Parliament

ARIANS: At the invitation of the local branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, New Zealand Parliamentarians intend to pay a visit to Western Samoa in 1958 after the New Zealand elec tions and to be present at the first meeting of the new Western Samoan Legislature, which will be elected at the end of 1957. They will bring with them, as a gift, a mace which traditionally symbolises the authority of the Speaker.

CIVIL AVIATION: A statement made by the New Zealand Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr. Shand), on March 5 stated that technical and economic prevent the continuance, for an indefinite period, of flying-boat operations on TEAL‘S Coral Route from Fiji via Western Samoa and the Cook Islands to Tahiti, and the possibilities of land plane operation have to be examined.

A technical survey will be made in order to ascertain the costs in volved in making the aerodromes in Western Samoa and Rarotonga suitable for long-range land-based aircraft.

Mr. Powles said that at least three organisations interested in operating air services in the Terri tory between Upolu and Savai’i and between the two Samoans, have made applications and negotiations were still going on.

EDUCATION: The policy con cerning scholarships is to be re vised. In future, scholarships will be given only to pupils who had obtained their school certificates in Western Samoa. The money is to come from the Western Samoa Trust Estates profits and the con trol of the scheme would pass from New Zealand to the Western Samoan Government.

HEALTH. Refresher courses and opportunities for advanced study are to be provided for Samoan Medical Practitioners. A start has been made and one SMP, Tautasi, will shortly commence a course on Public Health at the Hago University Medical School.

PUBLIC SERVICE: Scholarship boys are n future to be accepted as cadets in the Agriculture De partment and, if found suitable, be sent to New Zealand and Australia

to undertake diploma or ' courses at New Zealand anoi tralian Agricultural Colleges. .< The New Zealand Police Till School would be prepared to c Samoan boys for recruit couiu Samoan Constables for 3 nn training courses.

New Telephone Excih

AT APIA: The proposed instas; of a new central battery extx at Apia is to be proceeded win tenders for the installation r be available shortly. Work i commence early next year.

Samoans In New Zeal-

The large and continuing imc Samoans into New Zealann created special problems, partiid concerning housing in Aucklaua other large towns. There i difficulty in obtaining jobs am tain Samoans are stranded ii Zealand as they have no mon< fares back to Samoa. Other Ss< are getting into trouble am deported back to Samoa, the SB Government having to bear ttf of their transport back.

It may be required in futuiu emigrants have to depose amount in Samoa to cover thl turn fares, before being gras permit to leave Samoa. t The third Young Men’s Ce;6 the Cook Islands was forar Tupapa, Rarotonga, on Mas with 40 members, and the conn for the first year was electee Tupapa district is close to A Rarotonga’s port and most populated area, and the new \ thus has a correspondingly y membership than the Centr Ngatangiia and Arorangi.