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Health Committee, the Public Works Committee, and the Education Committee. Each Committee is composed of three Samoan members, one European member, and one official member of the Assembly. By study in detail of the problems of policy and administration in their respective spheres they are able to give valuable guidance to the Assembly. In addition, they are regarded as a particularly important means of giving elected members an opportunity of gaining the experience necessary before they assume a greater degree of political responsibility. The Fono of Faipule The Fono of Faipule was formed in 1905 by the German Administration of Western Samoa to provide a link between the Governor and the people of the outer districts. . Its members were regarded as Government officials. Their duties were to attend two sessions of the Fono each year at Mulinu'u to give advice to the Governor and, between sessions, to act as Government representatives in their own districts. Under New Zealand administration the Fono of Faipule was continued and for the first time it was given statutory recognition. At present the Fono has forty-one members representing territorial constituencies based on the traditional districts and sub-districts of Samoa. Each constituency returns one member, who must be supported by a majority of the matai (title-holders) in the constituency to secure election. The franchise is confined to the matai, who constitute a little over 20 per cent, of the males over fourteen years of age, or about one in four of adult males. The maintenance of this restriction does not indicate that either the administering authority or the Government of Western Samoa have not given consideration to the introduction of universal suffrage, as suggested by the Trusteeship Council at its fourth session. It indicates their realization, on the contrary, that the introduction of universal suffrage at this stage would be incompatible with that respect for Samoan culture to which they are equally urged by the Trusteeship Council—a respect which they have always shown. The average Samoan still regards his matai as his proper representative in matters outside the family. To set this conviction at defiance, by the sudden introduction of adult suffrage, would not be to make the Fono of Faipule more representative, but less so. But it is realized by all concerned, including many Samoan leaders, that this situation is gradually changing, and will change still more. Economic and social changes are providing new opportunities for individuals to obtain distinction and the recognition of their right to participate in public affairs. The franchise will inevitably become more general. When the time comes for a change to be made, the administering authority will certainly not be found to be antagonistic to it; and it is considered that the Samoans themselves will gradually adopt this view. Faipule election procedure is regulated not by New Zealand legislation, but by local Ordinance. It is within the competence of the Samoan representatives to initiate a proposal for amendment whenever they wish to do so. Administrative Organization Control By the Samoa Act, 1921, there was established a Samoan Public Service. . At present the Service is under the control of the New Zealand Public Service Commission, which has power to recruit, appoint, and determine the grading and promotion of officers, as well as the powers of inspecting Departments and exercising disciplinary functions. Part of its authority is delegated to the Secretary to the Administration, who normally selects local appointees, and makes recommendations in regard to the status and salaries of serving officers. This system has provided an impartial, if somewhat remote, form of control. But with the emphasis which present policy places on the development of autonomy, it has been agreed that control should be transferred to an authority in more intimate touch with the work of the administration. For this purpose legislation has been prepared to provide for a separate Samoan Public Service Commission. This body will

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