SAMOA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22307, 22 January 1938, Page 18

SAMOA

TO THE EIMTOR OK 1M KBES:".. Sir, —There is rue sentence in your leading article on Samoa, in your issue of Tuesday, which gives a cli.it: In practically oil (he (.rouble in the islands of recent years. The words are: "As several members of (he Mandates Commission pointed out, changes made abruptly inevitably had disturbing effects on San loan life." 1 have emphasised the truth contained in this statement on numerous occasions when referring to abrupt changes initiated by Administrators since New Zealand was invested with the mandate over Western Samoa. Strangely eiii'Ugh, von now quote with approval this pregnant truth in an attempt to belittle an effort by the Labour Government, to promote confidence in our administration by reversing the policy of previous governments which was responsible for the resentment and dissatisfaction then manifested! I cannot remember any protest, by you when the abrupt changes were made that produced such disastrous conditions round about 1928 and 1929. I am interested in your remark that the Samoan deputation now on ils way to New Zealand to discuss Samoan affairs is the natural consequence of the Government's policy, as it' such a policy were inimical to the success of our administration. It is ridiculous for you to contend that "ihc present Government's Samoan policy has progressively weakened Ihc Administrator's position by encouraging Hie Satnoans to look to Wellington for redress of their grievances," The previous Government's policy of placing all the responsibility upon the Admini.itrat.ois m dealing with Samoan grievances immeasurably weakened their position. because they were completely lacking in the very qualities necessary lor such a task, and, to make matters worse. were backed up by the Government in (lie failures! It is a well-known tact that the Administrators have not gained the confidence of the Samoans in the past, and there is no fear that the conciliatory policy employed now by the Labour Government will add to this lack of confidence. The unsatisfactory situation in Samoa from our lirst occupation, frequently commented upon adversely by the Permanent Mandates Commission at Geneva, required very careful and decisive treatment, and the only sensible method was completely to reverse the policy responsible lor such a disastrous state of affairs. This was a business-bice procedure, and the quicker it was done the better. You term this action, however, the present Government's lirsi blunder! But your arguments in support of your contention are painfuiLv unconvincing.

The second blunder, in your opinion. was the dispatch of the "Good-will Mission," and your reason for this, that the Government fnercby "superseded the Administrator as a channel of communication between the Samoan people and the New Zealand Government." Two things yen do admit, however: first that many of the changes made may have been desirable, and. second, that "an acme crisis" would make it excusable for our Government to supersede, the Administrator. Now, part ot the work of the Good-will Mission was to recommend these desirable changes, and certainly the situation was sufficiently acute to make the mission necessary, even at the risk of superseding the Administrator, which I here is no tittle ot evidence of the mission having done.

The third supposed blunder affords you an opportunity of trotting out a little foible about the Acting-Admmis trator It pleases you, so wc should not take it too much to heart. I still maintain that a capable Acting-Admin-istrator is always preferable to an unsatisfactory full-blown Administrator, and you have yet to convince me to the contrary. And I do not bclicv* that even you, opposed as you are to the present arrangement, will venture to maintain, in face of the strictures of the Permanent Mandates Commission in New Zealand's past performances in Samoa as mandatory, that tho previous Administrators were an unqualified success! I trust that, in justice to the Acting-Administrator, you will admit, that he has carried out his work with credit to himself and New Zealand, and that during his term of office the situation has been quite satisfactory. Your concluding remarks to the effect that the Samoan people believe there is no real authority in Apia, and that "uninformed benevolence is no more effective in the administration of Samoa than unintelligent repression" are too profound to be dealt with in a letter that has run to the length of this one, so I must content myself to remain.—Yours, etc., I C. It. N. MACKIE. 1 January 19, 1938.