SAMOA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16162, 16 March 1918, Page 11

SAMOA.

\ TO THE EDITOR OV "THE PRESS." Sir,—Tlic question of the retention of Samoa is of deep interest to all of us as New Zealanders, and I have read Your article in ''The Press or • the 12th upon the subject with great pleasure. You do not take the position of some persons that, because a 3 few local bodies adopt a certain attitude, therefore all the people in the land think similarly You express, 1 think, the true democratic ideal when yon say that it ■ is important that the .British Go\ein- . nient should receive a clear and unmistakable declaration of the colonial feeiinfc in this important matter. No doubt this view also applies to the other problems upon which the New Zealand representatives will be cal.ed upon to deliberate. You do not indicate the means by which this popular expression of opinion is to be obtained but it seems to me that the most effective wav of arriving at the wishes of the people is to submit the question to a referendum after a liberal and nee. popular discussion. I would strongiy the essential need of an immediate consideration of the ways and means to a final settlement. ihe fiitilitv of saying by resolution or • otherwise that Samoa should or . should not be-dealt.with in such and such a- -manner- is apparent, as it .brings us no nearer the basic princithe possession of con- . qucrcd territory. . Tho important fact is that we aro actually in possession of Samoa, mid wc ought to know at once what . attempt Tins been made in the last three and a-half years to safeguard the in- : teres:ts of the dwellers on the <s and ' conditions such as prevail in pfji and other of tho Pacific groups. It must be a fundamental of occupation by whomsoever it is undertaken, that the island is simply held in "trust," and that it is organised in .the interests of the dwellers. If in. future Samoa is to become the happy hunting-ground for the exploiter, as has bee/f the case m Fiji, it would be difficult to conceive worse conditions under German rule, and if we can take • the remarks of Mr Newman, M.P., as -reported by you in the same issue, as being that of any large body of opinion, the commercial interests and notthose of the people of the island will govern our future relations. the . wealth of the island must be developed for the benefit of the Islanders «i:d not for tho purpose of paying - cur share of the war nor to line the pockets of the trader. Our Government should issue immediately a.report of-our stewardship, giving clear evidence that we have a sincere deteiurination to protect the island dwellers •against exploitation. It should £e our aim whilst in Samoa to put the labour conditions in sucli_ a state that tncr question of ownership may ■ <-t v least for the time being be a subordinate one.—Yours, etc.. . _ Tl , C. R. IN. MACBJE. • ~ Christchurch, March 15th.