SAMOA'S TROUBLES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9601, 8 September 1921, Page 5

SAMOA'S TROUBLES

UNREST AMONG NATIVES.

PARTLY DUE TO OFFICIALS. (Per Press Association, Copyright.) (Received September 8, 11.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The "Herald's" Special Commissioner, dealing with the subject of disaffection among the Native Samoans, says there is no doubt that the attitude of certain, whites and half-castes strongly influenced them, but the Samoans are splendid types of manhood, physically and mentally, and New Zealand's task is difficult m handling satisfactorily a high-spirited people, proud, dignified and sensitive. She has probably not been particular enough m the selection of officials for Samoa. The average official m Samoa does not command the respect of the Natives. He lacks prestige and is without' the traditional upbringing _ and sayoir vivre that usually distinguish British > Colonial Office officials. There is no place m the Pacific where these things count more among the Natives, with their strict ideas of etiquette and ceremony, than m Samoa. The writer makes a suggestion principally m the Native interests that the conversion of Samoa into a Crown colony, with its more rigid continuous policy, might give better results than the present. IJe- adds: "Whatever his other faults the average German* official knew better than the average New Zealander how to comport himself at Native gatherings and pay regard , to the susceptibilities of chiefs, thus avoiding giving umbrage."