TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION .. .. .. .. .. ..3 CHAPTER I—The Petition— A. History of the Petition . . .. .. .. 9 B. Significance of the Petition .. .. .. ..11 C. Does the Petition represent the Freely-expressed Wishes of the People of Western Samoa as a Whole ? .. .. 14 D. What does the Concept of Self-government mean to Samoans ? .. .. .. .. 16 E. What is the Position of the Residents of European Status regarding the Question of Self-government ? .. .. 17 F. What is implied in the Request that New Zealand continue as " Protector and Adviser " ? .. .. 18 G. Reference to the Tongan Government .. .. 21 H. Reference to Eastern Samoa .. .. .. 21 CHAPTER ll—Political Advancement — A. General Considerations .. .. .. 22 B. Status of the Inhabitants of Western Samoa .. .. 22 C. Readiness of the People for Self-government .. .. 23 D. Government of Western Samoa .. .. 26 E. Powers of the Administering Authority .. .. .. 27 F. Powers of the New Zealand Representative .. .. 28 G. The Representatives of the Local Inhabitants .. .. 29 H. Legislative Power .. .. .. .. .. 30 I. Fono of Faipule .. .. .. .. 32 J. Central Executive Government .. .. 33 K. Village and District Government .. .. .. 34 L. The Urban Area of Apia .. .. .. .. 35 M. Judicial Power .. .. .. .. .. 36 N. Government Personnel .. .. .. 36 O. Public Finance .. .. .. .. .. 39 CHAPTER lll—Social and Economic Advancement — A. Racial Equality .. .. .. .. .. 41 B. Educational Advancement .. .. .. 42 C. Training of Leaders .. .. . . .. 46 D. Economic Advancement .. .. .. 47 E. Public Works and Communications .. .. 50 F. The New Zealand Reparation Estates .. .. 50 G. Public Health .. .. .. .. .. 51 CHAPTER IV—Concluding Remarks .. .. .. 54 ANNEXES .. .. .. .. .. 58—120