"WILL DO MY BEST."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 70, 23 March 1928, Page 9

"WILL DO MY BEST."

ADMINISTRATOR OF SAMOA

MORRINSVUXE PLEASED.

Honour conferred on mayor

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

MORRINSVILLE, this day.

Congratulations have been showered on Lieutenant-Colonel S. S. Allen since the announcement of his appointment aa Administrator of the Mandated Territory .of Western Samoa. Morrinsville residents, particularly, were delighted to hear of the distinction gained by one with whom they have come into contact almost daily for many years, and while regretting the loss of their Mayor, they •re proud of the great honour conferred oa him. Prior to the commencement of business at the meeting of the Morrinsville Borough Council 'last evening, the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. W. McPherson) expressed the gratification of the councillors at the appointment, which, he •aid was fully deserved. It not only rellected credit on his Worship, but on the borough of Morrinsville. He had known Colonel Allen for many years and had had many opportunities of appraising the qualities in him, which had influenced the Prime Minister's decision, and although his task was not an enviable one he was confident the Administrator would fully justify his appointment. "Duty Before All Else." Colonel Allen, in reply, said that he had neither sought nor deserved the position. It was one of those occasions when duty must come before all else. Tney might be sure he would do his best to justify the confidence reposed in TY m : v lt was **th the utmost regret that he would be unable to complete his s, term of office as Mayor of Morrinsville, I ♦s"™. fc, 7" exce \ din »'y B <>rry that the - time had come when he must lever his ' connections with the town. ° tw ,™*-i intervi< 7' Colonel A,len a * w . eek ? go ' he had known v nothing concerning the appointment. The t had been made when he ( ♦{ to ,!^ e . llington t0 con- ] fer with the Prime Minister. < ' * "'rthing whatsoever about : the job, he said, "but naturally I am 1 pleased at my appointment, which, however, was not of my seeking. I have no personal knowledge of Samoa, but 1 feel confident and will do my best." Sailing Oa April ia. Colonel Allen said he would ha sailing ■for Samoa on April 12. On April 1 he would visit Wellington and sea the

Prime Minister on business appertaining to hia new office. Mrs. Allen and their six-year-old son would accompany him to the islands.

The newly-appointed Administrator came to New Zealand in 1892, at the age of 10 years, and since then his home had been in the Dominion, with the exception of a period spent in England, and his term of war service. He was educated at Cambridge University, where he graduated with first-class honours in mathematics in 1904. He was fifth in the law Tripos in the following year. At the end of his university career Colonel Allen returned to New Zealand and qualified as a barrister and solicitor, and for 20 years, from 1907 to 1927, when he retired from business, he practised his profession at Morrinsville.

Brilliant Military Career.

Colonel Allen's military career, which [ was brilliant, commenced in 1901, when he joined the Cambridge University Volunteers. He received three years' training with that body and on return-

ing to New Zealand he joined the Territorial Forces, when they were inaugurated in 1911. He has served continuously since in different ranks. For distinguished conduct in the war he was iwarded the D.S.O. and bar, and a C.M.G. was conferred on him since the war. In he Territorial Forces he was Brigadecommander of tbe Ist New Zealand Infantry (Auckland) Begiment, for four ye» r «. his term ending on May 31, 1926. For the last 18 months he has *en in command of the Ist Battalion, Sauraki Begiment. j ~£*■* Allen's faculty for administra-l ' " confined to the mili- ? c has taken a promir.t eC«L n He was the Soaid Town ind a-half - » position for four )f Morrinerilto in M * yor