Its New Constitution

West Samoa Hammers Out Its New Constitution

From “PlM’s” Apia Correspondent The Constitutional Convention of 174 members (10 of them representing the European population), began on August 16, the marathon months task of giving the soon-to-become independent State of Western Samoa a written constitution.

HESE 174 men who, as the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. J. B. Wright, said in his ning speech, will go down in tory as the Fathers of the Con ution and thus the guardians of civil rights of the people, have deliver the qompleted, volumin document to the General As ibly of the United Nations by member. or their guidance they have the ift Constitution that was drawn by a Working Committee of the islative Assembly of Western aoa with the help of Prof. J. W. fidson, of the Australian National verity, and Professor C. C. Aik 1, of Victoria University College, ilington, NZ. roceedings got off to a creaky *t, and the first three days were oted to debating the rules of :edure to be followed during session.

Involved Work

uring the first week’s discussions lecame evident that many of members of the Convention id it difficult to understand the etimes intricate and involved ns of the constitutional and ,1 clauses in the draft in spite he additional explanations given Dr. Davidson and Professor nan, gain and again speakers appealed more time for members of the mention to express their views; not to rush proceedings in e of the limited time available ire the constitution in its final a has to go to the United ions. mgthy debates centred on two icular subjects which were of ial interest to the Convention on which many speakers were i to express views, bey were the traditional lority of the “Ali’i and Faipule” : village Councils of Western iqa) which were not specifically itioned amongst the important ponents of the new State in the :t constitution; and the ques of whether capital punish it should be continued or ished. motion asking for the authority he Ali’i and Faipule to be set and safeguarded in the final stitution was later withdrawn. n*ge number of members of the

Convention seemed greatly con cerned to have the rights of these councils of village chiefs the traditional representatives of villages and districts—expressly protected and anchored in the constitution but a compromise motion was later agreed upon. The definition of the authority of the Ali’i and Faipule will be referred to the Legislative Assembly for consideration and early legislation.

PM Quotes Bible

The question of capital punish ment in the new independent State was another controversial subject which was discussed at length and on which widely divergent views were expressed.

While many speakers—and in fact a majority of members—demanded on religious grounds that the death penalty should be abolished altogether, others pointed out that consideration must be given also to the victims and their families.

The debate on this point culmin ated in an impassioned address by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fiame Mataafa, who pleaded with the

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Papua's Reuben Taureka, President of the P-NG Workers' Association, with his wife, a Fijian.

They met in Fiji while Taureka was studying at the Central Medical School, and she is a great support to him in his activities.

convention to sanction the coi tinuance of capital punishment the only effective deterrent to pr vent the unwarranted taking human lives.

The Prime Minister cited tl Bible to support his arguments ai stated that it had been proved th imprisonment in Western Sami could not be considered a satisfa, tory deterrent to murder, as prise life there was quite acceptable many offenders who considered it kind of holiday.

Though no vote was taken on tl issue, a resolution to refer tl matter to the Legislative Assemfc for early consideration and if nece sary, legislation, was passed by large majority of the conventior Election in February The general elections to the n» Legislative Assembly of Weste; Samoa, which were to be held November, have now been postporn to February 4, 1961. The press Legislative Assembly will formally dissolved by the Couni of State on November 11, and t; present Cabinet Ministers will can on as a “caretaker” Governms until the day preceding the appoir; ment of the new Prime Minister The Legislative Assembly held special meeting commencing i August 31 to consider the Suppl mentary Estimates and ot h < legislation. The Assembly sat du. ing the evening hours, while t: Constitutional Convention sat du ing the day. The SupplementaE Estimates provided for an addition] expenditure of some £95,000 for t.: current year.