Samoa's Man In New Zealand

Prime Minister Tupua Tamasese recently announced that a Western Samoan high commissioner would be appointed to New Zealand. Among the candidates rumoured have been Lauofo Meti the present public service commissioner, Mr Eddie Stehlin the present WS trade com missioner to New Zealand, Asiata Lagolago chairman of the Bills Committee and even a white, Euro pean New Zealander.

Some members of parliament have said the executive had no right to decide on the matter of a high com missioner without referring the

matter to parliament. A member of this group agreed that a high com missioner was needed to represent Western Samoa as well as the many thousands of Samoans living in New Zealand. But he said that such an important appointment should first have been discussed in parliament.

He complained that too many things were decided on by cabinet that should have been first brought to parliament. It was an insult to parliament for the executive to decide the issue of a high commissioner without the knowledge and consent of parliament.