West Samoa's Commonwealth

Status Not Yet Decided

Prom a Wellington Correspondent

Western Samoa has not yet decided what relationshipc will retain with the British Commonwealth after independent

BUT Commonwealth Prime Ministers were told at their con ference in London in May that Samoa should be treated as a Commonwealth country until its relationship to the Commonwealth is determined.

The NZ Minister for Island Terri tories, Mr. F. L. A. Gotz, told the House of Representatives in Welling ton on November 1 that Samoan goods entering NZ in the meantime would enjoy the Commonwealth preferential tariff, and he hoped other Commonwealth countries would extend these preferences after in dependence.

"Milestone"

Mr, Gotz was moving the second reading of the Independent State of Western Samoa Bill, the debate on which was regarded as an historic milestone in NZ Parliament.

As the Prime Minister, Mr. Keith Holyoake, said during the debate, it is unique for NZ to be passing a

bill granting independence to at country.

Introducing the bill, Mr. Gott he looked forward to even relations between New Zealami Western Samoa after independe: He said because the Cover: of Western Samoa did not wi people to be treated as British jects but to retain Samoa c: ship, Samoans would become as far as New Zealand law concerned. But the New 7al Government had decided to es Samoans in New Zealand frorm registration.

The New Zealand Departing Island Territories would act as* for Western Samoa, at the Gi ment’s request, until it was ab appoint its own representatives.* “New Zealand has been to and understanding and endeavoured to educate the ; of Western Samoa to take g responsibility for their own ah said Mr. Gotz.

“We are committed for somea

i to assistance for Western )a, and I am sure we will not them.” e Prime Minister, Mr. Holyoake, that he did not think the people Western Samoa were completely r for all the problems of in ident self-government, and i; “I don’t think any newly endent people are. But it is by grappling with the problems If-government and independence any country can gain the sary experience to control its affairs”. . Holyoake said Western Samoa short of specialists and experts ;ry sphere, which, he said high d the difficulty of handing over one government to another, it with the help they expect and I am sure, receive from their s, notably New Zealand, rn Samoa will be able to face iture with confidence,” said the Minister.

Treaty of Friendship

J. Mathison, the Minister of Territories from 1957 to 1960, hat the Opposition (the Labour ► welcomed the bill. He hoped ity of friendship between New id and Western Samoa would »ned after independence. He oped that Western Samoa would ' New Zealand assistance to 1 her security.

Leader of the Opposition, Mr. r Nash, paid tribute to many ! associated with Western i. He referred to “earlier itsmen” of Samoan indepen such as Mr. Peter Fraser, Sir a Webb and Mr. T. L. onald. Sir Guy Powles, rly High Commissioner in rn Samoa, had been one of the Bt contributors to independence.

Praise for Mr, McEwen member for Southern Maori, ruera Tirikatene, paid tribute . J. M. McEwen, Secretary for Territories, for his knowledge understanding of Polynesian ige, customs and way of life.

Eruera expressed goodwill from aori people to the Samoans and itulations on gaining indepen- He said that the British were masters but they prepared

1 thoroughly for independence,

granted it readily when the ame. re had always been friendly ents between the Maoris and ms as to who was the elder r and who the younger brother

(Continued on p. 141)

Polynesian family but he was to concede that the Samoan r was the senior member, is reply Mr. Gotz said: “Many are prone to forget some of who laid the foundations of n society and government as them today”. He recalled Sir ; Richardson, Sir Stephen Sir Alfred Turnbull, Sir t Hart and Judge Morling, and ecently Sir Guy Powles. lay, as High Commissioner, we lack Wright,” he said, “and 3se Jack Wright he will remain end of time, known in every [ the Pacific, as is the present try for Island Territories, Mr, IcEwen.”

Gotz said he had seen Western change from a land of purely n customs to one blending its ad British customs, mly hope that, as an island of pure blood, they will long ; to retain their Samoan back and way of life.” the New Zealand Parliament eaker of the House seldom, if Bakes a speech about a bill, the end of the second reading Mr. Algie contributed to the ance of the occasion by ask ' leave of the House to speak, said: “In passing this bill the

House gives effect to one of the finest traditions of our race. When we pass over to our friends in Western Samoa the right to govern themselves, we do what our kinfolk in Britain did for us, for Australia, and for Canada.”

The bill comes into effect on January 1.