"CLEAN SLATE."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 142, 18 June 1929, Page 8

"CLEAN SLATE."

FRESH START IN SAMOA.

EX<COMMISSIONEB'S ADVICE.

OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNMENT.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day,

Declaring that he believed the position in Samoa would never be ended by force, the Rev. J. S. Goldie, who for 27 years was a commissioner in the Solomon Islands, and who is now a member of the Council of Advice, addressed a meeting at Hamilton last night. He made it clear that he was not in sympathy with those opponents of the Administration who were endeavouring to exploit the present situation for political purposes.

In answer to questions, Mr. Goldie insisted that the Government must not be obstructed in its efforts to carry out measures that were for the good of the Samoan people. He said that the Administration had to be supreme. In his opinion it was a mistake to appoint a military man as Administrator unless the purpose was to use force to dragoon the people into obedience. It was also another mistake in not selecting an Administrator who had some experience and sympathy with the native way of viewing things. The way out of the difficulty seemed plain. He would advocate the policy of a "clean slate." There was a golden opportunity at present to accomplish that end. The present Government was not responsible for the trouble, and the Samoans knew that. The Ward Administration had an opportunity to clean up the present position of things in Samoa and win the goodwill of ever lover of the Samoan people. He suggested a round-table conference of the leaders of all parties, first to consider the suspension, if not the removal, of the deportation order against the Hon. O. F. Nelson. He felt sure that after his recent experience it would be possible to convert that gentleman from an opponent of the Administration to a valuable ally. Alternatively lie suggested the appointment of a commission, composed not purely of legal men, and certainly not of Government officials, but of men with long experience of the natives, with possibly a legal man to act as adviser, to confer with all parties and make such recommendations as would enable Government authority to be established and bring the present unsatisfactory condition of things to an end.