SAMOA AND NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22307, 22 January 1938, Page 14

SAMOA AND NEW ZEALAND

"RELATIONS BETTER THAN SINCE 1914" (JOODWILL DELEGATES REACH AUCKLAND <PRKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, January 21. "The relationship between the Samoans and the New Zealand Government is better now than it has been since 1914," said Mr O. F. Nelson, leader of the Samoan delegation, which arrived by the Monterey on a goodwill mission to the Dominion. In general terms, he said, they had several matters to discuss with the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), but he declined to be more specific. Mr Nelson is accompanied by his daughter. Miss Olive Nelson, legal adviser to the party, the Hon. Tamasese. M.L C, Faalavamau, secretary to the Mau, Alipia, leader of the Fono of Faipulc.s (council of district chiefs), and Leiataua, a member of the fono. It is expected that the party will return to Samoa by the Monterey from Auckland on February 7.

"The present Government in New Zealand has removed the ban on the Mau organisation." said Mr Nelson, "an organisation which comprises an overwhelming majority of the people. The principal thing which satisfied the Samoans was my return from exile. Another source of gratification was the decision to increase the Samoan representation on the Legislative Council from two to four, which are now really elected representations of the Samoans. whereas they previously were nominated. The old Fono of Faipules was dispersfd. snd a new fono was set up on September 30, 1936, by the absolute election of Samoans by the Samoans themselves." The purpose of this visit to New Zealand was the discussion of certain subiects which they believed could better be discussed personally than by correspondence, he continued. The Samoans had been very well treated by the present Government, whereas there had been nothing but turmoil under the previous Government. The repatriation of Chinese labour had become part of the new policy, and was warmly supported by the Samoans. who did not want Chinese in Samoa.