SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 7

SAMOA.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. MR. RUTHERFORD'S "INCONSISTENCY." REPLY BY MPv. O. F. NELSON. Mr. 0. F. Nelson, in a further statement to an Auckland "Star'' representative, said: — "Mr. Rutherford, director of education in Samoa, is quoted by the Press to have made a statement in Dunedin on the 2nd instant on the political situation in Samoa. Although the head of an important department, who should be one of the Administrator's advisers and most loyal supporters, he does not seem to be at all sure of his ground. His remark that he knew he would be attacked severely by some in New Zealand smacks of a prick of conscience. He evidently has in mind some unpleasant hometruths. which I felt compelled to tell him personally of the inconsistency of an interview ho gave to a Suva paper with his attitude to members of the Citizens' Committee. "He refers to the present unrest as a 'suspicion that sometning is wrong in Samoa.' He blames newspaper controversy for the 'suspicion.' Yet of the Mau he says that "it grew and grew,' and he admits that neither the Government nor the Mau expected the position would reach its present crisis. He then states how 'we' admire General Richardson for the patience and tact he has shown in a most difficult situation, while further on, he admits, in rather an apologetic manner, that he knew there were faults on both sides. "This is the second time within a week that Mr. Rutherford has proved by his own statements that either he is not in the confidence of the Government or that the Government are not in his confidence. Only last week he, no doubt unintentionally, flatly contradicted tne Prime Minister's official statement in respect to the effect the Mau had on education in Samoa. Now. despite the fact that General Richardson has not admitted any faults of any kind and the Royal Commission has exonerated him and his administration in every way possible, Mr. Rutherford comes out with this startling announcement of there being faults on both sides. Surely there must be some mistake somewhere. '"Just before Mr. Rutherford left Samoa, he led us to believe he had fallen from grace with the Administrator for being an alarmist, in having -warned him all along that the Mau w-as growing. He (Mr. Rutherford) has at times told people outside of Government circles that he did not approve of the Administrator's present tactics, but while at Suva, on his way to New Zealand, he gave the Press an interview quite contrary to the views he had expressed in Samoa. f- Mr. Rutherford states that progress has been made by every Government department. He omits to mention this is the 14th year of New Zealand control in Samoa and the eighth vear of mandatory rule, neither does he say l whether that progress is in keeping i with the bona-fide interests of the people . or toward the attainment of the goal • which is said to be the ultimate aim of • the mandatory system. He beasts of having brought with him two men loyal to the .Administration. Surely he doea > not think it a wonderful thing that oufc ; of 35.000 Samoans he can find two well- ■ paid Government officials loyal to th» s Administration, even in Samoa.' 3