GERMAN SAMOA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 729, 31 January 1910, Page 5

GERMAN SAMOA.

INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVIENOE

o His, Excellency the, Governor of Gerniaa ; Samoa,; Dr.' ; Solf, - granted an interview to : a -Dominion : reporter .-'on', Saturday, and denied ,the: ; reporf I,that'■'..unrest ;.existed' •ainong.the" natives because 'of new taxes ,-' ; .; : The> statenieht' .>' of ■■ ai; American . jour.naliijt;,. (whose, remarks 'were' telegriphod from Auckland [ a '. few '■'.. days' 'ago)', was brought niider.'.-hia". Excellency's notice. The' -.yisiting,' pressman \had; said. that resdaents ,of VSamoa; were' 1 , smarting'. 'under what'-'ithey, declared.to'.'be'', unjust . and -wholly.. lUimeoessary;; .taxation. - -It: was stated; also that. the. two, Englishmen who had seats on. the. Governor's Council 'took '.no ? part ; in.", the administration of • affairs, - and ..vthat-;'; their";. positions were; mere "empty'honour.'': ; : ;;:' s '/ :^; : -: : ; .;'; ".'•.,lniregard 'to ii'ese' remarks,; his .Exoellenby; replied .that ■ tvjo • years ago it was fotaid; that'.an. increase;: inVrevenue '.was necessary.vand-.the'Gov6rnbt.-;drew .up- a progressive.income tax,;ina<iW>rdancowith: the. proposals of the Governor's Council. After,, a .second oonsnltation, the council offered some opposition, and the Governor suggested,"that: they;should' frame, other proposals.;' A committee:, was appointed; whose'report was adopted council, and the taxes proposed were accepted bythe.Government;, The original taxes had: ,heen' slightly;•increased,; but' it, was. quite incorrect 'to ' say that, the , natives were, nwblijig', because:they,'were;not heavily Eased;, •, Tie.-.white .people were' dissatisfiod at.: the '.'treatment of the. natives— tney" considered that the natives, should bear.more taxes,' hence' the. trouble.' ."::.

■As fox the! two''English members of the oouncil.Dr. Solf said that they were anything ;' but i figureheads.ft. They 'rendered .valuable, assistance ;in matters of government. ;.His Excellency was.confideiit that : the English ;,residents had : not' been the cause .of .spreading false reports, 'because too'- friendliest, terms existed between the Government,and them. :,; ■{■.;,-.'■;

/Dr.- Soli expressed regret, that, incorrect and. sensational' statements should have been /published ' readilyftby, newspapers, . because such articles did considerable 'harm. : Among- the white people, ;who saw.things in their'true light, they • would have no ill-effects; but. the articles • were often' translated and came into the hands of the-natives. „ ■■" ..•/...