SAMOAN TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 150, 28 June 1927, Page 9

SAMOAN TROUBLE.

«AN ENGINEERED AGITATION."

CITIZENS' COMMITTEE AND

NATIVE OPINION.

yjjBIBK QUOTES THE SAMOANS

XOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

p- WELLINGTON, this day. £ description 0 f local self-government ! in.Samoa by a fono of Faipules, was given to your correspondent by the Irinie Minister, who is Acting-Minister 0 f External Affairs. Mr. Coatee also took thi opportunity to quote very critical remarks from this body regarding some of those concerned in the present agitation. "With regard to recent statements of alleged dissatisfaction existing in Samoa it the present time," said Mr. Coates, "the"Government has proof that an agitation is being engineered and fostered ly a small section of the community whose object is to destroy the confidence of the natives in the New Zealand Government and in tlie present Administrator and to mislead the ntaive mind. The io-called Citizens' Committee includes three unofficial members of the Legislative Council, who are elected by the European and half-caste population, and three merchants of Apia, as well as sev* era! natives, one at least of whom is a notoriously bad character, having been prosecuted for manufacturing liquor and telling it to the natives, and having beeu imprisoned for the theft of native village funds, and who was on a former occasion banished by the American Government from Eastern Samoa. The great majority of the natives have not bees affected by the work of <this committee, nor has it the support of the European population of the territoryi of whom almost all regard the action of the committee as an unwarranted interference in native affairs." Fono of Faipules. •The Fono of Faipules; to which reference is frequently made, is an advisory body set up during the German administration, and received statutory authority from the New Zealand Government in 1923.. Although the Act provides for the appointment of Faipules by the Administrator, the method adopted in practice is that when a vacancy occurs the Administrator invites the chiefs and leading men of the district concerned to nominate a Faipule. The chiefs then hold meetings, and discuss the matter strictly in accordance with Samoan custom, and often resort to heated and prolonged arguments before a final selection is made. It is a Samoan custom, however, that no Fono gives a decision until all parties agree, or say they agree, so that it may be taken for granted that when a chief is finally nominated he is selected and is approved by the whole district. Not only is it obvious that the Samoans themselves will ensu*a that only their Samoan Parliament, but, under the provisions of the Act, no person shall be appointed a Faipule who is not qualified in accordance with existing Samoan custom to occupy the position ofc.-a- Faipule. Many of the present Faipules have held appointments for a numbers of yearß, and one Toelupe, the distinguished leader of the party of Faipules that have visited New Zealand oil two occasions, was one of the original appointees during the German administration, and has held continuous office since that time. How, then, can it he said that the Fono of Faipules is not representative of the people, or that the status of the Faipule has been repudiated by certain Samoans? No such repudiation has ever been notified to the Government of Samoa."

"A description of the Samoan committee may best be given in the words of the Fono of Faipules in December last, •dded Mr. Coates. "It stated, 'one lection has been banished by the Govtrnment, one section is seeking for themselves Government position, one section Is out to gain something from the plentiful resources of others.' The Fono further stated 'we are convinced that these matters originated with white Ken in Samoa because of their dissatisfaction with the prohibition law, tad in their desire to interfere in native affairs, which they do not understand. There was nothing to tell the GovernorGeneral on his recent visit except our gratitude, and at that time we did not know a single person here who was not quite contented. On enquiry we are_ sure that the European committee is stirring up some Samoans to express dissatisfaction. This is a new movement, a new thing amongst us. A Continual Hindrance. .•"Our history shows that the Europeans stirring up the natives has been a continual hindrance. Our country has at times been divided owing to some of the Europeans in this country trying to take sides with a section of the community. We who have passed through wars and years of struggling know only too well our former systems and their, disadvantages. Our country is now at rest with our present system, that has taken the place of the former Government of Samoa. These white men vainly use the names of Malietoa and Tupua. Xo white man has any say in such matters. We are the representatives of these great clans, and do not wish these old feudal matters revived. They are too sacred for foreign interference. Europeans promise «s vaguely the "manuia, (power)' they have come to this country for their own monetary advantage, and they have got their wealth from us. They come here with one suit of clothes. Now we ask can these people be dealt with, is there ao law to punish and stop them—they who try to disturb our peaceful county? It is their own wealth they are after, and they will despoil us in their attempt. Regarding their story of harsh administration and tyrannical punishment, it is clear they do not know our history, or our earlier Samoan customs, or they would know that the present forms of punishment are accepted j>y us as mild and kindly administered. One thing only is in their minds, that 'hey may increase their wealth at our expense, and vet they are permitted to continue thus."

The Samoan natives," Mr. Coates concluded, "are peculiarly susceptible to Political intrigue. Its potential dangers "e evidenced by the fact that a year °r two ago it became necessary, owing to similar trouble, stirred up by the loreign element in American Samoa, for "»e United States Government to Bend a warship to Pago Pago to enforce law and order, and eventually to imprison eighteen of the leading native chiefs of tf >e territory. The New Zee land Government are not desirous of a similar incident in Western Samoa, and will nave no hesitation in enforcing any necpowers in the interests of the ■•wes themselves."