Minister in

Archives-December 1945

NZ Prime Minister in Western Samoa

Samoan and European Grievances Discussed

THE increasingly important part the islands of the South Pacific are playing in world affairs is reflected in the fact that, within the past year, Western Samoa - with an airport of some importance on the cross-roads of the Pacific - has been visited twice by the Governor-General of New Zealand, and has now been paid an official visit by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Peter Fraser.

The Prime Minister and his party remained a week, in order to obtain a personal knowledge of the problems of the territory and find a solution for them, if possible. His visit extended also to the Tokelau Islands, the Cook Islands and Niue, the other New Zealand dependen cies. The party consisted of the Prime

Minister, Mr A G Osborne, MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister), Mr Ross Frazer, (Acting Director of the Internal Marketing Division), Mr G R Faking (Department of External Affairs), Miss K G Jordan (private secretary), and Mr S J Wemyss (cameraman). They completed a strenuous round of inspections, confer ences, and interviews, with only a few social functions interrupting the “strictly business” character of the visit.

Most important from the Samoan point of view, were the talks with native, European and Euronesian leaders, who submitted their grievances. The Samoan Fono of Faipule asked for a greater share of self-government and responsibility for Samoans - similar to the Tongan and Fijian native systems; better prices for

their products, particularly bananas,

copra and cocoa-beans; better roads and communications; better wages for local officials; increased employment of Samoans by the Administration, and bet ter facilities for education.

European representatives discussed with the Prime Minister the disposal of Crown lands for plantations to Europeans; the lifting of prohibition; bet ter wages for local-born officials; and the improvement of roads and services gen erally. Mr Fraser openly expressed sym pathy with the demands submitted to him.

He said, however, that on some of the more important and far-reaching ques tions he was unable to give a decision before consulting the New Zealand Cabinet.

In a speech before the Samoan repre sentatives and leaders, at a meeting held at Mulinu’u on Boxing Day, Mr Fraser expressed his sincere thanks for the cor dial reception given him and his party.

He said that he would do his best to sat isfy the legitimate grievances of the peo ple of Samoa on his return to NZ. ■