American Samoa

News Items from American Samoa

r:E Legislature of American Samoa met in session for 15 days, May 27 to June 14.

A wide variety of resolutions were submitted to the Governor, ranging from requests for general pay raises and authority to claim ownership of land on sea side of main road to complaints about merchants sell ing bad smelling goods to public.

All resolutions are studied, com mented upon by the Governor and submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, in Washington. ♦ * * Governor and Mrs. Peter T. Cole man visited Western Samoa, June 1-4, as guests of High Commissioner and Mrs. G. R. Powles and partici pated in Western Samoan Flag Day celebrations as well as observance of the Queen’s Birthday. * -> * * The Department of Labour in Washington approved the wage re commendations submitted them by Samoa’s Wage Committee held last May. The new wage rates, affecting the Cannery, Standard Oil, long shoremen and new industries, be came effective June 22. Cannery minimum rates increased from 35 to 38 cents hourly, Standard Oil to 45 cents and longshoremen from 25 to 40 cents per hour. Government employees are not affected by the above changes as yet. * * * The Inter-Samoan Consultative Committee (drawn from American and Western Samoa) met in a one day session, June 12, to discuss mutual problems. Chairman T. R.

Smith, High Chiefs Tamasese and Malietoa led the Western Samoan

group while Governor Peter T.

Coleman and Samoa’s leading chiefs for American Samoa completed the party. Subjects discussed included: (1) Immigration and Travel Per mits, (2) Tariffs, (3) Japanese Fish ing Vessels, (4) Agricultural School, (5) Treatment of Hospital Patients v/ho are visitors, and miscellaneous subjects. * * * A Samoan nurse, sanitary inspec tor and one school teacher will rep resent American Samoa at the SPC WHO Health Education and Welfare Training Programme in Noumea, New Caledonia. The trio comprised,of Mrs. Arieta Mulitaua opele, E Ripine Saupo and Fagaga M Gala departed June 20 via the Tofua.