TACT LACKING?

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 295, 14 December 1927, Page 7

TACT LACKING?

•—5 N.Z. AND SAMOA. Administration Further Criticised. REPOET INADEQUATE. (By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright) (Received «_ noon.) SYDNEY, this day. The "Sydney Morning Herald" comments editorially on the report of the Royal Commission which inquired into the administration of Western Samoa.

The paper states: "It Is unlikely th-j report will prove of much assistance in restoring the concord of those beautiful but distracted isles. "It is a disappointing document. The calibre of the Commissioners is such that something more helpful was expected. Sir Charles Skerrett is no feeble, legal rushlight but a brilliant luminary in his profession. '■ His fellow commiss.ioner, Judge McCormack, is particularly well fitted to apply himself to the Samoan problem. "It may be that the rather anaemic character of their report is due rather to the rigid terms of reference. If that be the case it is to be regretted it was not drawn more widely, for more than the personal administration of Sir George Richardson was involved. The whole system of the mandate Government was at stake. "The New Zealand Government and the personnel of the Samoan Commission will doubtless find cause for selfcongratulation in the findings of the Commission." After reviewing the evidence and the points at issue the leader continues: "New Zealand's administration of the mandate has, in general, been carried out with' praiseworthy regard for the interests of the people and with disinterestedness. For what she has done to improve their health conditions, the Samoans cannot but be grateful, but the very rapidity with which reforms have been effected has caused dissatisfaction. "Attachment to old and harmful customs dies hard among the Pacific natives. Much tact must be brought to the handling of them. It is tact, perhaps, that the administration has lacked.

"Trouble might have been averted had the Government availed itself of the services of someone with an adequate knowledge of Samoan traditions and temperament, and in whatever reorganisation may be considered necessary in the light of the Commissioners' report, such appointment might well be kept in view."