To Constituents"

Samoan Mp's Claim

Politicians "Too Poor To Give Hand-Outs To Constituents"

A member of Western Samoa’s

sgislative Assembly claimed in

unary that he and his fellow embers could not meet their

mstituents often enough be

iuse their low pay did not en >le them to provide the band its expected of them on such :casions. *HE member, Magele Ate, was giv ing evidence before a Commis »n of Inquiry into the salaries of dinary members, of whom there j 45.

The commission, which comprises essrs. A. M. Macdonald (chair m), R. S. Frapwell, E. Annadale, Atoa and Leutele Poutoa, is in stigating a Legislative Assembly :ommendation that salaries and al vances of members should total 00 a year, retrospective to January 1964. The present salary is £lBO, as allowances of £l9O.

Some time ago, the commission und that no increase in salaries is justified for the time being. But 2 Assembly referred the matter ck to the commission with the re mmendation that the annual figure ould be £6OO.

Magele Ate’s evidence on band its was among the many strange d differing views on Samoan par imentary life that came out at the mmission hearings.

"Robbed of Dignity"

Another member, Ulualofaiga ilamaivao Vaela’a, claimed that the laries of parliamentarians were not mmensurate with the prestige and gnity of their office. In fact, mem rs were “robbed of dignity” by ing underpaid.

However, Luamanuvae Va’aelua ;i, a former Minister of Health, aintained that the salaries were big tough to cope with the personal penses involved.

Additional money, he went on, luld tempt some members to use it a way that would lower the dignity the office; and he thought that the ;ure of £6OO would not be justified r at least 15 years, possibly 50.

He added; “If salaries were re

duced, it would give constituencies a chance to find people willing to serve their country in the true sense of the word.”

Falesa Pualagi Sam Sa’ili, a staff member of the Audit Department, said the best and most capable men were not taking part in public affairs because the pay was too low.

Sagaga Asi, on the other hand, claimed that parliamentarians should not be paid at all.

“Duties and functions should come before remuneration,” Sagaga said.

Sittings Prolonged

Another member, Lesatele Tapi Va’ai, said that the present sit ting allowances caused members to try to prolong sittings of the As sembly because they were paid by the hour.

He also pointed out that at least five or six country members had settled in Apia, and only went home once a year or once every three years, because they wished to avoid the in volved customs and contributions in their own districts.

Lesatele said the older members were unable to take supplementary jobs in Apia. But they collected food and money by taking part in the ceremonies at funeral and marriage feasts.

Fonoti Vainiu, a planter, told the commission that if salaries were in creased to £6OO a year it would “give rise to a delay in deliberation and de ciding on candidates, and might even result in such tense feeling among them that it would tend to split and jeopardise the harmony and peaceful relationships which have existed in the district in the past”.

The Commission of Inquiry was due to report to the Head of State by February 29, which meant that its findings were not to be made known until after the Legislative Assembly was dissolved on February 7 in pre paration for the elections on April 4.

Newspaper View

The Apia newspaper “Samoa Bulletin” said in an editorial in January that it would be surprising if the Commission of Inquiry into parliamentary salaries decided that Western Samoa was getting “value for money from its ordinary members at the moment”.

“The districts should look for re ports of constructive progress from their members, not money and food,” it said.

“When this attitude is more wide spread, Western Samoa will be approaching working democracy, and executive salaries for members will be justified.”