SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 2, 3 January 1924, Page 3

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

J RETURN OF ADMINISTRATOR. ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. FAITH IX THE FCTURE. (From Our Own Correspondent.: APIA, December 20. Major-General Richardson, Administrator of Western Samoa, addres3ed a very largely attended meeting of member's of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Welfare League on Christmas .Eve. following on hU return from j Auckland, where he consulted with members of tie Government on Samoan 'affairs. I The Administrator said that on his 'arrival, nine months atfo, he found fat j Samoa was faced with economic and {other problems consequent upon the disorganisation of the,, whole world by the Great War. but, unlike many countries •of tlie Old World, its trade and comimerce had not suffered to any- extent, due to the protection it had received from the Inion .lack and the generou* consideration it had received from New Zealand. The country had not been cal;ed upon to share the burden of increased taxation which had fallen so heavily elsewhere, other than 11 bear the common increase in cost of Living. A process of reconstruction must, however, sooner or later he carried out in Samoa if they were to attain tlie ideal desired both by the Administrator and citizens, who, while being obligated and grateful to the Government of New Zealand for their financial support, were anxious to see their own economic activities increased and placed on a sound financial basis, so as to enable Samoa to be entirely independent of outside monetary assistance. Tliis. ideal involves the consideration of many problems, but he felt confident it would ba attained. Native Problems. Xew Zealand's first care in the governing of these islands ,\vas the welfare of the Native race. The problems were: First, Health. How to make the Samoan race a healthy, strong and increasing one. Second, Education. How to ensure that the education of the Natives harmonises with their surroundings and future requirements so as to maintain their happiness and contentment.. Third, Kconomic. How to ™et the Natives to make fuller Uie. of their land, Mid to incr* , :is"_> p'.-i.luetiou. f.'ntcrtunatcly. tho nr;,t problem jvliich confronted the administration was the epidemic of dysentery which, during the early period of last year had spread over these islands causing considerable loos of life amongst native children. Tho way in which all sections of the community united to assist the medical department to stamp out the sickness afforded an object lesson for dealing with any national problem in future. Tho Xew Zealand Government was especially anxious to do its best to further the interests of the Samoans in matters of health and education, and it would never hesitate to render financial assistance for these purposes. Unfortunately medical organisation was costly and the Samoaii Administration conkl not at present afford to bear the whole expense of the very essential services now liein,? carried out on behalf of the natives' who were now appreciating the benefits of the treatment they were receiving, and had agreed to submit to a special tax as a contribution towards the cost of such treatment.

In matters of education the Samoans had up till recent years been entirely indebted to the missions whose self sacrificing services were acknowledged by all. Tlie future policy would be to cooperate with these organisations, which deserved thanks and support. The economic development of the natives was a difficult problem which ■would continue to receive the most careful consideration by the administration. Efforts were being made to get the natives to make fuller use of their lands, but immediate results could not be looked for and only with the help of all who had the true interest of the Samoan race at heart could this problem ultimately be solved. He looked; forward to the future with confidence that tlie natives would actively support the administration in its efforts to teach them to help themselves. Finance. This might be considered in two divisions: First, the finance raised from revenues of the territory and expended for the administration of all our Governmental activities, and second, the finances of the Crown estates which I are solely concerned with New Zealand. With regard to the former they were endeavouring to economise, so as to! live within their income, and at the same time provide from revenue for the ordinary public works which for the past few years had been carried otit with the assistance cf loan money. But in spite of economies effected they might this year require some slight assistance from New Zealand in order to balance accounts because they had had to incur certain unforseen expenditure, and would have a decreased revenue I from exports, as compared with the ' previous jear. through the heavy gales and rains last Marqji, which damaged public property and adversely affected the plantations and reduced their, crops. He was, however, very hopeful as to the prospects next year, and very optimistic about the future prosperity of Samoa.

: Ite the finances of the frown estates, these up to the present had not been the concern of the taxpayers in Samoa. as the money for administering these estates had been provided by Xew Zealand. Now. however, as the Now Zealand Government hud generously decided that the profits from these 'estates should be devoted ' to assisting the Administration of the country, it was natural that the .people of Samoa should be anxious to ccc' the Government estates pay their way.- Any revenue obtained from tljis source would probably be available for development, and might also relieve New Zealand to some • extent of its annual subsidy specially granted for the medical and educational activities of the natives.

In «»rder to co-ordinate tlie policy of the Government regarding the Crown estates with the interests of Samoa, said General Richairdson, b,e recently conferred with the Minister in charge of the Islands—Sir Francis Bell —who. on' behalf of the Kew Zealand Government, decided to revise the present policy of administrating: these estates. This policy. together with some of the matters decided at tlie conference, he wished to communicate to all concerned. The clmiigeo in administration arising from these decisions -miulit cause disappointment to individual,., l.ut he wished everyone to know that every decision mad was subsequent to the most careful deliberation and consideration of the interests and future welfare of Snmon.