Birth-Pangs of Self-Government
p. 69 · Read in the full issue
THE pains attending the birth of self-government in the New Zealand Trustee Territory of Western Samoa continue.
The new Legislative Assembly, after a lengthy session on finance, completed its deliberations in June, and adjourned, and there is peace.
Newly-elected Samoan members were generally critical of the Gov ernment’s finance plans and would not approve the proposal to in crease customs duties.
With a large increase in banana shipments the Government expects the Territory’s finances to improve
before September 30. Despite re strictions on overseas trade, New Zealand seems ready to consume all the bananas that Samoa and Fiji can produce this season.
The three Samoan leaders Tamasese, Malietoa and Mataafa— left Apia in June for New York where New Zealand’s annual re port on Western Samoa is to come before UNO Trusteeship Council for consideration. The chiefs are expected to explain the Samoans attitude towards controversial mat ters like universal franchise and the Matai system of representation.