CONSTITUTION OF SAMOA

Chronicle (Levin), 28 August 1947, Page 6

CONSTITUTION OF SAMOA

SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT IN PARLIAMENT WELLINGTON, August 27. A strong protest ' against the procedure adopted ia bringing to the notice>of the House, the Government 's proposal to change the constitution of YVestern Samoa, was made by the leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, ip tlie House of Represeutatives this afternoon after a statement on the political advancement of Samoa was made by the acting Prime Minister, Mr. Nash, by leave. Mr. Holland said the announcexnent came as a great surprise and the Minister 's statement eontained some highly controversial matter. It was not usual for controversial subjects to be raised when a Minister was given permission by the House to inake a statement. He asked if the Government was proposing to introduee any legislation affecting Samoa. Mr. Nash: Yes. Mr. Holland said there was no indicatiou of that course in the statement. We had great respect for the people of Samoa and as the statement eontained such higlily controversial matters we had to make sure that no mistake would be made. He considered that all papers and mforniation concerning the proposed legislation should be laid be-fo-re all members of the House. In view of the promise made by the Prime Minister before he left for Canberra, that an international affairs committee would be set up to consider matters such as were now proposed, why had that committee not yet been set up? Opposition nominations for the committee had been forwarded to the Prime Minister but nothing had resulted yet. "We have not heard a whisper of any chauges proposed, " said Mr. Holland, who addcd that though discussions had been held outside the House, oue half of the House had beeu iguored. He protested strongly against this procedure and suggested that the commit tee be set up immediately and that no furtlier steps be taken until the whole Samoan question and related documents liad been examined. A principle was involved and he cousidered a uear breach of faith had been committed by the acting Prime Minister. Mr. Nash said the House would have everv opportunity to discuss whatever legislation was uecessary to briug about the chauges proposed. The normai procedure liad beeu followed aud the legislation would come to the House for deteriuination. All iuformatiou would be made avaiiable to members. He was auxious that the international affairs comniittee should be set up as soon as possible. Mr. Holyoake: The session is already half over. Mr. Nash said uo discourtesy iu the slightest degree liad been intended. The ordinary procedure was adopted. "The policy of the Govermnent right from the start — aud it had been roiterated many tiiues — had beeu to give to Ihe Hamoaus the uiaximum of selfgovernment," said the Minister. Nc discourtesy was intended by taking this course to give notice of the Government 's inteniions. Mr. Holland: I accept that statement without any reservation at all. The statement read by Mr.jNash was as i'ollows: "In October, 19io, a draft trusteeship agreement for Western Samoa was subiuitted to Unitcd Nations by the New Zeuland Government, providing for the replacemeut of the League ot Nations nmndate and the agreement was approved by the General Assembly. Iu the meantiuie the . Samoan people have been consulted regarding the terms of the draft. Their represeutatives declared they recognised that a trusteeship agreement marked an advanco 011 ihe mandute but they felt their ultimate aim of self-goverument would not be furthered by accepting the agreement. Accordingly they asked that Samoa be granted self-governnient aud that New Zealaud reinain as the udviser and protector of Samoa. "During recent montlis the Government have carefullv studied the whole uuestion aud consulted with the Samoan

leaders to discover in what manner the wislies of the Samoans can best be met iu the iinuiediate tatare. Under the terms of the tru.-teeship agreement New Zealand is charged With the rosponsibility of progrossively incrcasing ti) e participatiou of the Samoan people in the control of their own aifairs. ( "Our consultations with the Samoan leaders have led us to believe that a substantial step forward can now be taken. Accordingly the Government has worked out plans which will give the Samoans an increased measure of responsibility immediately and prepare them for taking further progressiv'e steps toward self-government. These plans are now being discussed with represeutatives of the Samoan peopie. "It is proposed to establish a Couucil of State to advise the Adniinistrator or High Comniissioner as he may in future be called, ou all important matters of policy affecting the territory. This Council will be composed of the Adniinistrator as representative of New Zealand and of the three Fautua who are at present the ackuowledged represeutatives of the Samoan people Future appointments to the Counci! will be made by the Governor-Genera! on the uoinination of uiembers of the Fono of Faipule aud tlie Samoan members of the legislature sitting together. "It is proposed to replace the prc seut Legislative Council by a legislature in which the Samoan members would have an absolute majoritv. This bodv will be composed of the following groups of members: Members of tlie Council of State with tlie Administrator acting as president of the legislature and possessing only a castiug vote, and the three Fautua to have all the riglits of ordinary members; eleven meinbers noniinated by the Fono of Faipule; five represeutatives of tlie loca) Furopean conimunity elected under adult suffrage; and six official members Where, in the past, the powers of the Legislative Council were limited, it is proposed that for tlie future the legislature sliall have full powers in all mat ters afl'ecting t'hc territory. - "Tn tlie case of the following subjects, however, the consent of the New Zealand Government to any local legislation will be uecessary before it beeonies law: External afl'airs, defence, control of tlio public scrvice, Ihe iniposiiion oi' discT'iiuiunlnry customs

duties, currency and banking, immigration and any matters affecting the prerogative of the Grown or the title to Crowu lauds. In view of lier position under the trusteeship agreement New Zealand must continue to liold general reserve powers of legislation and of the disallowance of local legislation. But this uecessary reserve povver will not restrain the exercisc of a real initiative and responsibility by the new Samoan legislature. II is proposed that in future the title ' Administration of Western Samoa, ' snall be replaced by that of ' Government of Western Samoa. ' The Fono of Faipule or Samoan advisory council whicli consists of -ti district represeutatives, will remain constituted as at present. The Samoan public scrvice will be removed from the control oT the New Zealand Public Scrvice Gonxmission and an indepeudent public service authority will be a£)pointed iu Sauloa. It will be the special fuuctiou of this new authority to iind the meaus ot proinoting local people, botli Luropean aud Samoan, to posilions of responsibility as quickly as possible. " Oonferences with the Fautua have been held in an atmpsphere of, greatest frankness and friendiiness and the Government 's propo'sals will now be discussed fully at a meeting being held with the district represeutatives. The United Nations mission in Samoa Has, of course, been kept informed of oui plans. Their own report has not yet been submitted to the trusteeship council but tbe Government will give full consideration to any proposals that they may make regarding the government of the territory. But from our examination of the position and our discussions with the Samoan leaders, we are convinced that the plans we have elaborated for the development oi self-government in the territory, represent a real and welcome advance for the people of Samoa. In any case the present proposals are intended only as the first steps in a process which will not end until the Samoan people are able to assume full responsibility foi tbe control of their own aifairs."