SAMOAN TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1927, Page 12

SAMOAN TROUBLE.

CHIEFS AND ORATORS. OBJECTION TO ORDINANCE. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. ALLEGATION' BY OPPOSITION. j " A DISHONOURED PROMISE."' - I ißy Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON", Tuesday. A petition, signed by Luigaia and 144 others, "chiefs and orators of Western Samoa," has been presented to the House of Representatives by Mr. Mason (Auckland West), expressing dissatisfaction with certain features of New Zealand's Samoan Administration. '"We feel confident that the desire of the New Zealand Government." states the petition, "'is to establish for us a good Government, so that we may live in peace, amity and security on our native soil." Then, with sorrowful hearts, the petitioners relate the main causes of their dissatisfaction. Six large typewritten pages contain a translation of their plea, which opens with an assurance that it is not intended to deprecate the New Zealand Government or any Stood institution for the native welfare. Disappointment is expressed at an official refusal to permit a deputation to proceed to New Zealand. The policy adopted by the Administrator has been prompted by the best intentions, but "some of the methods for carrying out this policy have revealed his lack of knowledge of or his wish to ignore the temper and true character of the Samoan. The Samoans are well described in one of our old proverbs. We are moved by love, but are never driven by intimidation." Tt is suggested that the Administrator (Sir George Richardson) has misinterpreted Samoan obedience to laws aud patience under heavy punishment to be proofs of their approval of such laws, with which they have been made acquainted by past Governments, and which set aside time-lionoured customs and privileges. The petitioners ask that the Faipules should be selected by districts in accordance with past custom, and cease to interfere with work of such officials as the native magistrates. land and title commissioners, agricultural instructors. or village mayors, and that rule of the hereditary village councillors should be revived. All laws empowering the Administrator or Faipule to inflict punishments on Samoans without trial should lie repealed, and Samoans given the right of appeal from the lower Court to a higher Court. The petitioners request that either a High Court of Samoa be opened, or a special judge be appointed from New Zealand to investigate all cases wherein Samoans have been punished under the Samoan offenders' ordinance, and that this ordinance be completely repealed. Opposition Criticism. Speaking just before midnight Mr. HE Holland asked why the Government had neglected to carry into effect its own Samoan Amendment Act of 1923, which it was claimed would give the natives effective self government. Attention was called by the Opposition at that time to the danger of the proposal to upset Samoan native customs in regard to selection of faipules. An undertaking was given by Sir James Parr that only natives qualified in accordance with Samoan usage and customs should be eligible for appointment as faipules, but both the spirit and the letter of this undertaking had been broken, with the result that 30 out of 33 villages had repudiated the faipules who had been elected, and the fono of faipules was just as much the nominee of the chambei of administration as was New Zealand's Legislative Council. It had been suggested by the Administrator that there was no workable scheme for electing Samoans to the Legislative Council, as they could not get two suitable Samoans. Thus a pledge given four years ago, backed by statute, had been dishonoured. Reply by Prime Minister. The Prime Minister replied that New Zealand would welcome constructive criticism in regard to Samoa, and the Government did not object to investigation, but it did like to know if the cause was just. There was a national pride on the part of New Zealand in seeing that Samoa was well administered and that the natives progressed. The question of th.e bona fides behind some of the public criticism was worth attention, but he would await the return of the Minister of External Affairs with detailed information. Mr. Fraser: Tell us the motive in plain language ? Mr. Coates: Trade, liquor and copra, added to which there is some belief on the part of a few that they would be better under German rule than the Mandate. Reference to Mr. Nelson. The name of Mr. A. Nelson, chairman of the Citizens' Committee, was mentioned, Mr. Coates stating he was a very able man and a wealthy one, but he made the whole of his wealth since New Zealand had taken over the mandate of Samoa. Mr. Nelson wanted to be the Government, but he could not be allowed to do that. Mr. Coates added that the Government ■welcomed an investigation. It realised that the honour of New Zealand was at stake in its administration of the mandate. On the return of the Minister of External Affairs, Hon. W. Nosworthy, the House would be fully advised of the' position. Mr. Holland complained that letters addressed to him from Samoa had been tampered with, and he believed thia had been done at Apia. This was a serious matter, and he strongly objected to these Prussian methods. Mr. Coates said the Government could not be held responsible for this. He was not aware whether or not there was a censorship in operation. Party May Visit Samoa. "Will you agree to a Parliamentary party visiting Samoa in the recess to hold an investigation into the <nievances?*' asked Mr. Holland, at the end of the discussion. "It would mean a lot of money, but it is a matter we could consider," replied the Prime Minister, who added that an objection would be made to a select committee, as it might not be regarded as sufficiently representative. Fraser, who incidentally expressed the opinion that some proposals of the Citizens' Committee were more reactionary than those of the Government, made the suggestion that a small committee, representative of all sections in Parliament, could visit Samoa and take evidence and see documents. This wpijld be satisfactory^ The Prime Minister agreed to consider $ho proposal. v ■