SAMOA

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1929, Page 3

SAMOA

FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR- SOME BIG CHANGES-

ECONOMY IN SALARIES.

WELLINGTON, Feb. 20,

The report on me auinnnsirauoii ut Samoa presented to Uio uoxeriimeiii uy Messrs u. V'orsiialielt, Park anu jtSorenuseii, is an 'extremely ieugmy document, anu contains a ucumeu analysis of the various State Departments in Hie Mandated Jemtory, rrom which it appears that consiuer.t(j|y re-organisatiun of the public service is regarded by the Commis-

sioners as urgent. Tlie following recommendations, additional to those

already telegraphed ,are made : (1) That the responsible officers cf the Samoan Service should be recruited in future entirely from the New Zealand service.

(2). That so far as possible, the officers for the various Departments of the Samoan Service should be seconded front an appropriate department in New Zealand—o.g., Treasury to Treasury; and Customs to Customs.

(3) Tlint-, with certain limited exceptions, no official, seconded from New Zealand to Samoa, should remain in the territory for a period exceeding two years, this providing for a regular system of interchange. (4) That in respect of the salaries of New Zealand officials (once the administration has been reorganised), the salaries should be those payable to ‘the officers as members of the Now Zealand service. Any extra payment to compensate for extra cost of living in the Islands should be byway of special tropical allowance. (5) That the scale of salaries prescribed for the Samoan Service should lie reduced more in accordance with the value of the service rendered. (6) That the matter of superannuation in relation to the superannuation, be reviewed. The present position of officers is considered, too liberal. (7) That rather numerous cases of concealed, or undisclosed, remuneration to the officers of the Sftmoan Service should be abolished—e.g., transport allowances, houses at inadequate rentals, etc. (8) That- the furlough privileges be reviewed. The present privileges in relation to granting of furlough are too generous. (9) That the system of advances to officers he reviewed. It- should be definitely understood that no, payment beyond the salary due will he granted. (TO) That the officials he prohibited from undertaking any outside duty. It is understood that at least one officer of the Administration acts as correspondent for the. press. This should be prohibited forthwith. (11) That the present arrangement under which married women are era-

ployed should he discouraged, and in j certain cases, forthwith. The Commissioners noted a marked absence of the New Zealand Flag throughout the territory, and 'recommended that it he flown regularly at ap iropriate places to enhance New Zealand’s prestige. RE'COM:MEN 0 A TIO NS TO BE CARRIED OUT. 'WELLINGTON. Feb. 20. “The recommendations of the Committee will be carried out as soon as possible,” said the Prime Minister, Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward to-day. “The whole matter, of course, has received a lot of consideration. We have had the report since wo have been in office. Cabinet decided that we would accept the recommendations and carry them out generally. There may he, of course, some instances where we will find it impracticable to do so, and wo will have to he guided Iby the effectiveness of the whole proposals. We are confident that the state of affairs in Samoa is such that we have to proceed in the interests of New Zealand.”