SAMOA MENDATE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3328, 5 November 1919, Page 6

SAMOA MENDATE.

NEW ZEALAND TAKES CHARGE.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 3.

In the {House this afternoon Sir lJames Allen made apst-afement on a draft Order-in-Council which he was I circulating, dealing with the provisions for the ‘Government. of Samoa. The idea was that the Samoan Public Sery_i{:,,o should be part and parcel of the New Zealand Public Service. It was intended to make it‘ possible for members A of the Public Service there to proceed to Samoa, and thus obatin valuable administrative experience. They would go for a term of three years, It was proposed to "establish a Legislative Council, which would be mainly of an advisory character. For a time the Council would be composed of nominated members, it» ‘being irnfaracticable to provide for elections at present. There would also be ‘unofficial members, who must be British born or Samoans. All rights and privileges of the natives would be reserved to them. Sir Joseph Ward asked if members would have an opportunity to discussthe matter. 3 The Minister _replied that he wasi afraid they would not -at the present stage of the session. {He coul-d assure} the House that the Gvoernment was do-1 ing all it could to -deal justly with thei Sanl.OallS,-WllO would have two channels 1 of representation on the -Legislative Cour-cil—~through the medium of chiefs! and through possible direct represen-l tativestappointed to the Council, Al treasury would be established on the lines of the New Zealand Treasury. The,‘ currency in the Islands had already been. changed from German to British.

A Public Health Department would be established. A chief medical. oflicer 'was being appointed, A .l?rison's. and lPolice Department was provided for, _and it was hoped. the garrison would be removed at an early date, The maintainence of order being placed in.'tlle -hands pf civil police. The education system would be based on that in operation in New Zealand. Some schools had already been opened, and more would be established. The New Zealand Customs Act of 1913 would be applied to Samoa, and law administration would be put on a parity with that in force at the Cook Islands. Land laws had not been dealt with, but itl was intended to see that native lands} wduld moi. be alienable to alfy but thel .Crown. The Imperial ‘authorities hadl expressed a desire that intoxicating liquor should not be supplied to the natives. The Ministei-pointed out that in American Samoa no liquor was allowed at all 'to anyone, and it was proposed to make -the same law provision in the case of Western Samoa. A branchi of the Public Trust Oflice would be established. ‘ VR»-eplying to Mr Holland, the Minister said industrial matters would not be dealt with at lpresenst. The House would have an opportunity next session to consider those. Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, the Minister said the Legislative Council would have power to make ordinances Subject to ratification by the New I Zealand Government. ‘