The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1930. THE POSITION IN SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1930, Page 6

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1930. THE POSITION IN SAMOA.

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

The Minister of Defence has submitted his report on • the Samoan situation to Government, and he deserves to be congratulated on the considerable measure-of success that has attended Ms efforts. It is evident that the conciliatory attitude and the sympathetic tone adopted by Mr. Cobbe in dealing 1 with the -Samoans 'has jDroduced a distinct impression upon them-,- • and he has' 'at last induced them to discuss the position in an amicable spirit. Something- of importance has thus been achieved, and the dispatch of the Minister ;to Samoa'to discuss affairs with the'Mau was evidently a step in the right direction. But while it is obvioirsly impossible at this distance to form any accurate idea of. the present condition of affairs in Samoa, it would be unwise to assume that a final settlement lias been assured by this friendly interlude. It will be-remembered that.the first condition laid before the Samoans by the Administrator at the opening of this.. conference was expressed in very emphatic terms —" The Mau iuust end." Now the dispersal of the natives who have voluntarily, retired in large numbers to their own villages may bo regarded as a prelude to the abolition of the Mau. But if the natives still regard it as their national organisation, and it attempts to function as such, the mere fact that the Samoans are no longer scattered through the bush may not

prevent the recurrence of the troubles that have agitated this unfortunate country so long.

At this stage we are once more compelled ,6 face the awkward fact which Ave have

frequently emphasised in previous discussions of this question. Though Ave have given our Administrators all credit for their good intentions; it is undeniable that the policy they have followed has produced very unfortunate results, and therefore we maintain it has been a mistaken policy. The vital question of the moment is—will this policy be still maintained

in Samoa? We have no doubt, we repeat, about Colonel'Allen's good intentions. But his explanation of his views to the Samoans at

the conference seems to make it quite clear that he still has faith in the policy that he has tried to enforce; and his announcement after Mr. Cobbe's departure that certain new districts are declareddisturbed areas" has a decidedly ominous ring.In his address to the Mau the Administrator laid great stress upon his readiness to listen sympathetically to. the grievances of the Samoans. But it is fair to ask in what, way the complaints and protests of the natives have been received hitherto. In general terms we may say that the grievances of the Samoans fall under two main heads —complaints of interference with their customs and their system of local self-government, and protests against arbitrary methods of punishment. To the Samoans, who have set forth at great length.a list of alleged encroachments by the Administration on their traditional rights and liberties, and who have protested emphatically against imprisonment, exile, and deportation without trial, Colonel Allen's assurances of kindly . consideration and an impartial application of the principles of " British justice " may fail to carry conviction. Colonel Allen holds that the methods of government and the social and economic systems that he wishes to establish will prove in the long run beneficial to the Samoans, and

that great material advantages have already been conferred on them. Apparently he cannot understand why they do not believe him. The answer to the riddle of course is that all men, civilised or not, prefer to be governed after their own fashion, and to manage their affairs in their own way. In dealing with primitive peoples such as the Samoans all.

historical evidence and all political experience go .to prove that the wisest course for civilised Powers is to leave the internal administration of the natives as far as possible undisturbed. This is the method followed with success by the , Germans .in . Western Samoa under the Protectorate, and by the Americans to-day in Eastern Samoa, where the Mau is recognised and honoured by the Administration and'co-operates with it .in the management of native affairs; and it is not too late for New Zealand to adopt such a policy now. If any

doubt still exists, about the nature and magnitude of the grievances alleged by the Samoans let the facts'be investigated by some impartial tribunal. • But whatever else is done or left,undone, any further attempt to enforce the policy hitherto adopted by the methods already -employed will not improve the situation, and may lead-to even more disastrous consequences.