FUTURE OF SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 61, 11 March 1916, Page 6

FUTURE OF SAMOA.

CIVILISING THE NATIVES. Complaint of the lack of enterprise on ihe part of New Zealand traders in regard to Samoa, and an indication oi tue possibilities of building up business between the Dominion and the island now in British occupation were contained in a letter received by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon from Sergt. \V. H. Mulcahy, sergeant in charge of the Soldiers' Club and manager of canteens at Apia. The apathy of New Zealand traders towards the prospects of Samoa could only arise from a lack of knowledge of the island and its native population of 40.000, declared the writer. The fir-it and most necessary aim, in direct opposition to the German idea, should be to educate the natives to adopt as far as possible our own manner of living. To teach them the use and comforts of furniture, cutlery, hollowware and especially boots, would lead to a thriving trade, while they could also be shown the handiness of portable cooking ranges, as against unenclosed fires., the use of cooking materials, and of sewing machines and musical instruments. The adoption of the European style of clothing would mean big business to Auckland particularly, and that this was likely to come, was demonstrated by the wearing of knickers and coats by the boys in the schools. Sergeant Mulcahy suggested that as a preliminary to developing trade between the Dominion and the island, a trade exhibition of New Zealand samples should be held.

The writer had sent a copy of the letter, which contained much detailed information, to the Minister for Defence, who wrote to the Chamber, asking for a copy of its reply to Sergeant Mnlrahv. Considerable diseusion followed the reading of the letter, in the course of which it was stated that several firms were already rerrardinsr Samoa with a business eve. but the difficulty was the of qualified men to push trading interests at thi3 juncture. The matter was referred to the committee for consideration, and in thp meantime the secretary was instructed to convey thp members' hearty appreciation of the information laid before it. I