SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 225, 21 September 1921, Page 8

SAMOA.

COST OF ADMINISTRATION. MINISTER UKI'LIES TO CRITICS. (By Tcle-jr.i-ih—Press .-Lss-iciaUon.*. \\ ELLINGTON, Tuesday. At a llniary Club luncheon to-day an address on Stninnn affairs was given l>\ lhe Minister nf External Affairs, the lion. E. 1\ Lie. lie .-aid lhe Government-! first cure was the well-being of lhe Samnans. It was no use talking of what was dune live or six years ago by way of . ompaiisuii. for it was not possible In do to-day the same work with ihe -tune amount of money. The administration of a country such as Samoa was necessarily expensive. During his recent visit he had iiivc.-li-j.iteil matters very thoroughly to see if iin< administration was on pood line, lie said advisedly lhat New Zealand had :i good trustworthy stall' there, lie did mil -cc that Samoa ".mis n vers! a fled or lhat the administration could be curtailed. The hospital and other work undertaken was all part of the duty assumed with the mandate, li was fa! hotter that the mandate should he in Hriii-h bands, and the mandate bavin. been secured the work hud lo lie carried through. He did not think Samoa would be n burden to New Zealand, for the profits from the Crown estates would pay for administration and development. • fust at pre.-ent, he admitted, prices for Eastern produce were low. but copra, for instance, was now improving in price. Cocoa, had fallen from UI4U to C3O per ton. but it would not be a wise policy to allow the plantations to be abandoned temporarily .so he had arranged fur the work to be continued in the hope of an improved market. In IS months of civil administration a water supply had been provided for tbe town, additions had been made to Unfreezing works, a butchery had boon established, and the Government had taken over the hotel, which was a paying proposition. One of the essentials was an improved medical service to overcome the prevalence of hookworm. The Government was not neglecting the educational side of development. In this connection he wished to acknowledge the work of the missionaries. It was hoped to train the Samoans themselves in time to carry on many of the official duties of the administration. Mr. Lee.said lie did not object to criticism which admitted honesty of intention, but with much of the criticism in regard to Samoa it was impossible tv get down to bedrock. The liquor grievance was not a Samoan grievance. The Samoans did not desire liquor. They did not take alcoholic liquors, but under the mandate New Zealand was pledged to see that the! natives were safeguarded. This being so, the National Cabinet, on the advice of Sir .lames Allen, decided that the only sensible way was to keep liquor out altogether, a policy which Parliament would have an opportunity of discussing in a few weeks. Personally he thought it would not be to the advantage of the Samoans to restore alcoholic

liquor to the inhabitants.