may spark ailing public interest

New-look Gilbert and Ellice politics may spark ailing public interest

From a Tarawa correspondent When the new-style GEIC Legislative Council met for the first time on April 14 there were, among the elected members, only five who had served in the old House of Representatives. Eight members of the House were defeated in the March 19 elections; 10 members did not seek re-election. Of the five elected members of the old Governing Council, only Reuben Uatioa, formerly the colony’s Chief Elected Member, took his place in the Legislative Council; and on April 7, at a meeting of the elected members of the council, he became Leader of Government Business.

There are indications in the elec tion results of a general air of disillusionment with political affairs in the colony. Full voting figures are not yet available but the percentage poll could be down as much as 10 per cent, on the 1967 figures, when 50 per cent, and 80 per cent, of registered voters in the Gilbert and Ellice groups respectively, went to the polls.

It is clear that the old House of Representatives did not produce the results expected by the people. Too many requests for an increased copra price, more schools and teachers, and improved shipping services, went un answered. Despite the fact that the House was only an advisory body, the elected members were held to be responsible; some former members of the House received as few as 10 per cent, of the votes cast in their electorates.

But what of the future?

There are now 23 new elected members out of 28 in the Legislative Council. Most significant, perhaps, is the election of Mrs. Tekerei Russell, who, with Reuben Uatioa, will represent Urban Tarawa.

Mrs. Russell is the first woman to be elected in any colony election. She speaks Gilbertese, Ellice and English and no doubt owes much of her success to her work with women’s clubs on Tarawa. Her election sug gests a strong women’s vote and, at least on Tarawa, a breaking-down of the practice that women vote as their husbands direct.

Many of the other members from the Gilberts are, as yet, unknown quantities, but two, Bureua Kamaoto (South Tabiteuea) and Bauro Toka take (Abemama) are presidents of Island Councils. Bauro is also the uea, or high chief, of his island.

Bwebwetake Arieta (Maiana) is a former editor of the Colony Informa tion Notes and, more recently, a Gilbertese announcer on Radio Tarawa. Two of his colleagues were also successful in the Ellice Islands:

Tomu Sione, an Ellice announcer, was returned for Niutao, and Isa Paeniu, Bwebwetake’s successor on CIN, defeated Melitiana Kaisami, Nuku laelae’s sitting member, by two votes, Thus there are now five former Broadcasting or Information Depart ment employees in GEIC politics— the three just named, Reuben Uatioa, and Sione Tui Kleiss, who was returned unopposed for his home island of Nui in the Ellice group. As broadcasting facilities have improved, and the distribution of the various news-sheets widened, so these officers have become well known throughout the colony, thus giving them an ad vantage over other Tarawa-based civil servants seeking election.

The Ellice Islanders have elected a strong contingent to represent them in the House. Most have retired from the civil service or took leave of absence to contest the elections.

Two conclusions may be drawn from their success: The difficulties faced by and the ineffectiveness of the non-English speaking members of the House of Representatives have been recognised; and, with discussions on further constitutional change pos sible within the three year life of the Legislative Council, the Ellice Island ers have tried to ensure the protec tion of their rights and position as a minority.

With many ex-civil servants from both groups in the Legislative Council, it is likely that the government will be under increasing pressure to speed up its localisation programme and make more effective use of its exist ing personnel resources. The issue is one on which the government is particularly vulnerable as the debate at the final meeting of the House of Representatives made clear. (See PIM, Jan., p. 22) Before the Legislative Council meeting began, Sir John Field, the Resident Commissioner, after consult ing the Leader of Government Busi ness, announced the names of those who would serve on the Executive

Council. Bwebwetake Arieta was named Member for Social Services; Isa Paeniu, Natural Resources; Naboua Ratieta, Communications and Utilities; and Otiuea Tanentoa, Inter nal Affairs.

Naboua (Marakei) was first elected to the House of Representatives in a by-election in 1968 and was returned unopposed in the recent elections. Otiuea (Bern) was a member of the House from 1967.

In addition to the Assistant Resident Commissioner, the Attorney General and the Financial Secretary (who are ex-officio members of Executive Council) the Resident Commissioner appointed the Director of Agriculture Ray Harberd, and the Director of Education, Harry Urquhart, to be official members.

It is of interest that with “develop ment” so much to the fore, and an up-dated plan to be presented later in the year, that the Development Section will not have an official re presentative on the council.

The Financial Secretary will have to be the chief spokesman in this area, but, at the same time, with Members for Social Services and Natural Resources already in the council, the appointment of officials with parallel interests seems a surprising one.

Sir John opened his speech at the first session by explaining the new constitutional set-up to members. He said he was moved to do so “because from remarks that have sometimes come to my notice, it would appear that in some quarters these things are not altogether understood”.

Having explained that the Executive Council would decide government policy, and that the government must seek consent for its laws from the Legislative Council, Sir John warned, “That power to consent must be wisely and responsibly exercised, for the government of the country, with all the services for the public, must be carried on from day to day.

“If, by unwisely witholding your

consent to the government’s measures, you brought the government to a stop, the people who sent you here to represent them would be the first to suffer. Your function, then, is not to make the governing of the country difficult, but to do your best to ensure that it is good government— that the laws that are passed are wise and necessary and that the government of the country is carried on efficiently, to meet the real needs of the people without unnecessary expense.”

Of the present constitution, Sir John Field said: “With the new responsibilities that it places on the unofficial members of the Executive Council and on this House it is the first instalment of the transfer of real power to the people and we are, indeed now laying the foundations on which the final constitutional structure will be built.

The speed of further progress will depend on how well you can make the present arrangement work. If they work badly, much time will be lost looking for alternative arrangements.

If they work well, the way is now open to a steady advance towards full

ministerial responsibility.”

Britain has formally agreed that the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony be separated from the High Commis sion for the Western Pacific, but she announced in April that the legal and administrative steps to the separation would inevitably take some time, but are now in hand. Western Pacific High Commissioner is Sir Michael Gass, at Honiara. His responsibilities after the separation will be the British Solomons and the British side of the New Hebrides Condominium. He is not likely to complain about shedding the problem child that comprises the Gilbert and Ellice.

Political Changes

In American Samoa

The United States has agreed to changes in the legislature of American Samoa, which will enable the legis lature to undertake a preliminary re view of the budget. The legislature will also be empowered to meet in two sessions a year, and its members cannot comprise, in future, full-time government employees. Members who are at present employed by the gov ernment have to decide whether to resign either from the public service or the legislature.

The changes are seen as an im portant step towards political maturity in American Samoa.