The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1930. THE PROBLEM OF SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1930, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1930. THE PROBLEM OF SAMOA.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the icrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The letter addressed by Mr. J. S. Fletcher, M.P., to the Prime Minister on the subject of Samoa will be welcomed by that large section of the general, public which is already convinced that - "something ought to be done" in-this connection;, and done speedily. We are not inclined to support Mr. Fletcher's suggestion that the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata should accompany, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe as an envoy to Samoa. For we fail to see what could be gained by this stop, which would be probably open to.serious misinterpretation; and in any case, the Prime Minister has already stated that this course is not practicable. But Ave are entirely in agreement with Mr. Fletcher's appeal-for a conciliatory policy and a peaceful settlement in Samoa, and we hope that a strong body-of public opinion will support his protest. It is .not. necessary for the moment to review in detail the methods of administration adopted in Samoa or the principles underlying them. At present we are concerned with the results and consequences of the system, and it seems to us that it is by its effects that such a policy should be judged. What has been the outcome'of the policy carried out by two separate Governments in Samoa? Actuated no doubt by the best of intentions, the Administration has been driven by the inexorable "logic of events" to apply more and more pressure to the natives of the mandated territory till to-day we find ourselves preparing to utilise the military and naval resources of the Dominion to coerce into submission the helpless and defenceless little people that the League of Nations "has entrusted to our care. Xo one will dare to assert that such a state of .things was<ever contemplated by those responsible for bestowing this mandate on New Zealand. Is not this inevitable 'outcome of the course that has been adopted by our administrators in Samoa a sufficient condemnation of our policy there?

"With the greater part of Mr. Fletcher's appeal to the Prime Minister we are in entire sympathy and agreement. It is to be hoped that Sir Joseph "Ward, before committing himself, will consider very seriously what is meant by his declared policy of "wiping out the Mau by force." Many people appear to imagine that the Mau stands for only a small disaffected section of the Samoan people. Yet the petition presented to the League of Nations at Geneva in 1928, Avas signed by nearly 8000 Samoans out of a total of SSOO male taxpayers. If the Mau, as now seems probable, represents virtually, the majority of the Samoans, to crush the organisation by main force'would be an impossible task. But in , the attempt terrible wrongs may be perpetrated and incalculable and irremediable harm may be done. Yet if • the policy of coercion is persisted in, what else are we to expect? We are driven to the conclusion that, whatever be the right course, this certainly is wrong. Ai tree can only be judged-by its fruits and a policy by its consequences, and we hold strongly with Mr. Fletcher that the time has come to substitute "the hand of friendship" for "the mailed fist" in Samoa.