Changing

Times are Changing In W. Samoa

From FELISE VA’A In Apia Things aren’t what they used to in the Western Samoa Parliament, the old days—say up to the time the Tamasese government—mem ;rs spoke with bated breath when ey criticised the Tama Aiga, (Royal ms) and held ministers in awe.

Now, however, everything goes, he Tama Aiga are not free from e members’ caustic remarks, as [ataafa has found out. Since be >ming Prime Minister for the sec id time he was accused in parlia ent by Toluono of having shown srespect to the Head of State, H. H. lalietoa Tanumafili 11, during the In jpendence celebrations. Apparently, le Head of State had arrived at Par ament House at a time when the rime Minister was not there to re vive him. Needless to say, Mataafa mied the charge.

Other cabinet ministers being con antly bombarded in parliament in lude the Minister of Finance, Sam aili, and the Minister of Health, Seiuli aulafo, the former for some un opular economic policies, the latter )r the unpopular hospital fees re using local residents to pay 10 sene very time they have to visit the out atients’ department.

What is unique about the criticism f the government in parliament is s generality and acuteness. Strange i say most of the criticism is com ig from a group of liberals led by the armer Minister of Works, Tupuola tfi. Members of this group include 'it former Secretary to Government, 'ofa Lauofo Meti, former Secretary f Finance. Aumua loane, Vaovasa aanaia Filipo, a barrister and olicitor, Fuimaono Mimio, Toluono, Eikeni, a director of the Samoa rimes, Aeau Taulupoo, Leaupepe 7 aimaala, Western Samoa’s first lady larliamentarian and former deputy peaker of the House.

Whether these members are acting n concert or separately is not clear, mt they have certainly succeeded in earing the cabinet’s policies to pieces.

K government attempt to raise duties in more items has been de bated as has an attempt to nake a down-payment of $26,125 in about 400 acres of land the govern nent wanted to buy from private andowners. The total purchase price ivas around $200,000.

As Asi Eikeni put it, “There is

Ihing wrong with the government’s empt to buy land. The only thing ting is that the government is crying out having no money while at the ne time it is planning to buy land, isumably for development. But why esn’t the government make avai le the land it already has for de

lopment?”

And a barb from Tupuola! The vernment talks about the poor fin icial situation it is in, so it proceeds to op some projects, cut allocations, r off workers and limit credit avai oility. Yet, this same government s proceeded to suspend the hotel d tax, and is now planning to let » merchants handle the liquor distn tion. As a result, the government is sing and will lose a lot of money at could be used to finance govern snt activities.”

Tupuola is not against the distri ition of liquor by merchants. He lestions whether it is timely to allow e merchants to take over the liquor stribution especially when the ►vernment needs extra funds.

Then comes the natural question tiy Opposition attack against the ►vernment is so strong and con ntrated. And the answer, in the □rds of the song, is that times are a langing; that Western Samoa must id new methods of solving new pro ems. It seems that the traditional adership is no longer seen to be ; competent as it used to be when imoa’s needs were simple and fewer.

Secondly, a pattern of partisanship slowly emerging in parliament but party system, if it does exist, is rgely informal at this stage.

What the future of the present [ataafa government will be is diffi ilt to say. But certainly, no govern ient in Samoa has had such a rougn eginning.

Amily Planning

5 Catching On

Family planning is catching on in Vestern Samoa according to the lealth Department which reported tiat it is having difficulty in limiting tie crowds wanting to see the family ilanning movie shows. Even the child en are trying to get in.

In a survey of the nation’s bed ooms, the department found that he intra-uterine device was the most lopular method, followed by the pill md then the condom. Statistics re garding the use of the rhythm and ivulation methods were not available nit figures are spiralling for the in :ra-uterine device. It was reported hat 255 persons used it in March, 287 in April and 382 in May.

The pill was used by 247 persons in March, 261 April, 269 May.