The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1923. POLICY IN SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 2, 3 January 1924, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1923. POLICY IN SAMOA.

For the cause that lacks assistant*. For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

"We publish to-day a summary of an important address that the Administrator of Samoa, Major-General G. S. Richardson, delivered to the Chamber of Commerce at Apia a. few days ago. This address, which embodies decisions taken at the recent conference with the ActingPrime Minister at Auckland, for which General Richardson made a special trip to New Zealand, covers all the main problems with which tne Administrator is confronted in Samoa. Quite rightly, General Richardson lays it down that our first consideration in Samoa must be the natives' welfare—their health", their education, »nd their economic advancement. He hopes to Ret them to develop their land, but he frankly admits that progress in this direction will be slow. In the meantime, it is necessary that the wealth of Samoa should" be increased, "and the Administrator and the New Zealand Government have decided to encourage outside capital to come in and increase it. The management of the Crown Estates, which has hitherto been in the handg of the New Zealand Government, is to pass over to private enterprise. Ownership is to remain with the Crown, and the lands are to be leased. General Richardson apparently is convinced that under private enterprise these estates will be more productive. It has also been decided that ■ the Government trading enterprises shall be leased to private traders if the Administrator sees fit. At the same time the Administrator is determined that the Government of Samoa shall as soon as possible cease to be dependent on New Zealand for subsidies.

Policy in Samoa has thus three basic principles—to protect the natives, to increase the wealth of the country, and to make revenue and expenditure balance. The decision to let private enterprise work the Crown estates will be challenged, but we think that in such a cmt the opinion of the man on the 6pot should be accepted. Evidently the management of these properties has not been co successful as it might have been, and the Government is justified in giving private enterprise an opportunity to show what it can do. It is not as if the fee simple of these lands was being sold. Moreover, the calling in of private enterprise is part of a general policy of attracting capital. New Zealand investors are asked to come and help Samoa to develop its resources, and we hope that the appeal will be given the best consideration of New Zcalanders who have money and enterprise. Samoa is New Zealand's problem, and it is desirable that it should be developed with British capital. Samoa, of course, will have to offer reasonably good opportunities. General Richardson cannot understand why capitalists do not exploit the pineapple industry. Possibly one reason is the formidable competition of the huge development of this industry by American capital in Hawaii. There is no reason, however, why the prospects of this and ether industries should not be examined by New Zealand business men, and we commend General Richard - son's appeal to that class. Finally, we may note practical proof of the Administration's desire to make accounts balance, the decision to" reduce not only the number of Civil servants, but their salaries. The intended reduction in staffs suggests that criticisms of the sue of the Civil Service have been justified. We are not sure, however, that it ia wise to cut down emoluments. Good men are needed in Samoa, and euch mea will not go to the tropics if the financial arrangements— salaries, allowances, and pensions—are not attractive. However, there will be general satisfaction at this determination' 'to make Samoa stand financially on-its own feet.