W. Samoa’s Govt.

Backs Down

The political set-up in Western Samoa, whereby the vote is restricted to less than 15 per cent, of adults, may not look very democratic, but when the people really get worked up over an issue, the politicians sit up and take notice.

Early in July, public opinion triumphed when, despite anguished protests from Prime Minister Mataafa and his Cabinet, the Assembly revoked the controversial school fees legislation which was introduced less than a year previously.

The fees levied on children at tending all Government schools, were expected to yield an ad ditional £30,000 annual revenue to help to pay for education.

Fees ranged from 10/- to £l5 a term.

Those against payment said that education should not be the privilege of those who could pay for it, but was the birth right of every child.