ADMINISTRATION OF SAMOA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 12

ADMINISTRATION OF SAMOA

Minor Amendments To Act

EXILE AND DEPORTATION ABOLISHED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, September 14. Minor amendments to the act governing the administration of the mandated territory of Western Samoa are contained in the Samoa Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by GovernorGeneral’s Message to-night. The bill gives the Administrator power to confirm by warrant the appointment as faipules of Samoans who may be elected or chosen from time to time in a manner to be prescribed by ordinance. No person is to be appointed as a faipule who is not qualified in accordance with existing Samoan usage and custom to occupy the position; but all faipules at present in office will be deemed to have been duly appointed.

A section of the bill deals with criminal offences in the territory. It is provided that if a Samoan married couple have not lived together for seven years, either may marry a second time without being guilty of bigamy Aiding a person who has escaped from custody is made a punishable offence, and there is a restriction by which Samoan prisoners may not be transferred to New Zealand, except with fee consent of the Governor-Gen-eral in Council.

Exile and deportation are abolished, and there are amended provisions regarding pardons and remissions of sentences.

All native-owned land which at present is vested in the Crown as trustee of the beneficial owners is to be vested in the beneficial owners, to be held by them in accordance with the customs and usages of the Samoan race. If land is at present held by valid leasehold, the leasehold will be deemed to be held by grant from the beneficial owners. After a brief explanation by the acting-Leader of the House, the Hon P. Fraser, the bill was read a first time.