SAMOA.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 28 November 1925, Page 6

SAMOA.

A MODEL MANDATORY. NEW ZEALAND COMPLIMENTED. (mm ovr ottn cosaigpoitDwrr.) LONDON, October 23. Sir James Alien and Mr J. D. Gray (Secretary of External Affairs and Cook Islands Department) left for Geneva last 'Monday to attend tho t-eventh session of the Permanent Mandates Commission. On Tuesday, this body, which was presided over by Marquis Theodoli (Italy) considered the- report of the Government of New Zealand on Western Samoa.. The scission lasted all day. On Wednesday. tho travellers set out for London, and arrived last evening. As is usual when, tho Commission has for the first time appearing before it a representative directly in touch with tho administration of a mandated territory, a general statement was asked ior covering the policy and the chief principles of administration. Mr Gray made a lengthy statement which was' listened to with evident interest, and was later referred to by tho chairman and by other speakers in tho most complimentary terms. Mr Gray's subsequent examination with respect to tho points of the report was not in any wav critical, but was rather for the purpose of submitting and elaborating the infonnation given generally in the official documents. All the members of the Commission were keenly interested in the Samoan Islands, and a great many questions were really asked more with a. view of eliciting geographical and ethnological information than having any bearing on essential mandatory points. Tho chairman, in welcoming Sir James Allen, expressed the satisfaction of the Commission at the presence of Mr Gray, whoso high competence and great knowledge would bo of much assistance to the when discussing tho report on Western Samoa.

Mr Gray said the present report was particularly full and comprehensive, and that it indicated the policy which had been laid down for the guidance of New Zealand's administration in carrying out the duties imposed by the mandate, as well as the progress achieved in tho practical application of those principles. Interests of the Natives. "Tho New Zealand Government," continued Mr Gray, "has always construed tho Articles of the Mandate as placing tho interests of the indigenous population above any other consideration and consequently all our legislation and administrative policies have been framed with a view to furthering to the greatest possible extent tho moral, physical, and material wellbeing of the Samoan people. I feel I can claim that we entered upon our Mandate duties with hope, and confidence in our ability to carry theni out, because wo were beins asked to apply to the Government of this new Island Group, the indentical principles which for many years past have been guid-r ing and influencinc the administrations of tho other Pacific territories committed to New Zealand's care. Wa i'elt that we were merely enlarging our Paoifi/c Native Trusteeship by including within it _ another great branch of our Polynesian peoples. "There was and is ono important point of difference in the circumstances of theso respective groups. The Cook Islands consist of almost purely native communities; there has been practically no penetration by European or alien settlers. But when New Zealand accepted the 'Mandate for Samoa she took over territory which had already been largely developed by European capital and which possessed a considerable European and alien population, many highly cultivated plantations, and valuable trading establishments. It was necessary in the interests not only of tho economic life of tho territory, but of the Samoan people themselves, to maintain these European enterprises. It was vitally important that tho great coconut plantations particularly should not be neglected, because owing to tho presence of the destructive rhinoceros beetle in the islands tho Administration dared not risk the creation of vast ideal breeding grounds for this insect scourge by permitting tho European coconut areas to fall into decay. Any such policy would have menaced tho very life of the Samoan people. There r was no other course open to tho New Zealand Administration, therefore, but to maintain those cultivated European plantations and to continue tho policy of importing alien labour to cnablo it to do so. Diverse Elements. "Herein lies tho chief problem of tho Administartion. By the express injunctions of tho Mandate it must regard tho interests of tho indigenous people as of paramount importance and the legislative and administrative course it pursues must always have that end in view. Obviously there must at times be a clash with tho interests of tho European population, because it is not always, possible to reconcile the interests of two such diverse elements at all points, and the 'Mandate, as well as our own inclination, urges us to placo tho wejl-being of the Samoan people first. I have heard it said, and I think with great truth, that any Administration or other organisation which is charged with the primary duty of governing a territory in the* interests of an indigenous people who 'are not yet able to stand by themselves" under tho strenuous conditions of th<» civilised world' should be regarded with suspicion if it does not at the hostility or evoke the. criticisms of the European trading and planting communities." . . Members of the Commission who followed with questions included M. Freiro d'Andrade, M. Van liecs. Sir E. Lugard, Mine. Bugge Wicksell.

"The Best Eeport." • Prior to making enquiries on points on which information was sought, each speaker, without exception, prefaced his remarks by complimentary reference- to the Government of New Zealand on the very remarkable report which it had placed before the Commission. "As was invariably the case with New Zealand.'' said M. d Audrade "tho report had been most carcfullv' prepared, both in regard to the essential questions with which it dealt and to the details. It, was the best report, which the Permanent Mandates Commission had received from anv Mandatory Power. The chairman, in winding np this portion of the proceedings, said, # in essence, that the Commission desired to compliment the New Zealand Government not. only on tho manner m which it achieved its duties under the Mandate, but upon the remarkable success with which it wa* carrying out its obligations. He concluded by sayinr that the Permanent Mandates Commission regarded report of the New Zealand Government's Mandatory over Western Samoa as a model both of form and substance.