SAWOAN ADMINISTRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 139, 14 June 1926, Page 9

SAWOAN ADMINISTRATION.

—i— '■ —— - — » . DUTY IMPOSED BY MANDATE. NATIVE INTERESTS FIRST. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. In the course of his speech (a resume of which has juat been made available) at the reception accorded him at Apia on the' occasion of his • recent visit to Samoa, the Governor-General explained the distinctive position occupied by the mandated territory in'the scheme of Empire government. ■■:.,.' "The administration, of, the mandated t■•rritory of Western, Samoa is on a d'irer<int footing: from. any other task' that we have ever attempted and we may be.Bu.re that criticism will be searching," said his Excellency. "For these reasons the Government is bound to consider everything from one single point of view—that of the ultimate benefit of the Samoan people—and not from the point of view of our national interests. Still less can- personal or private interests be allowed to weigh in the scale. "That does not mean that the Administration will not give full and impartial consideration to all, of whatever race they may be, who have interests? in the islands. But it does mean that where interests conflict, as in some cases it" , is that they must do, then the deciding factor is consideration for 'the-interests and good of the Samoan people! The responsibility rests, not on. the .Administration alone, but on every individual of the community, and it is the bounden duty of all to support the Administrator in the policy which, under the Government of New Zealand, it is his duty to carry out, and in the steps which he takes to enforce it."'