TALK OF SEPARATION REPORTED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 11

TALK OF SEPARATION REPORTED

Inhabitants of Western Samoa CRITICISM OF DOMINION ' RULE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, September 16. Mr. R. W. Robson, editor of the “Pacific Islands Monthly,” in an address at the Polynesian Club, criticised the administration of Western Samoa by the New Zealand Government, and said that while he was in Samoa recently he heard much talk among nonofficial Europeans and among halfcastes of a desire to be separated from New Zealand and attached to the administration of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (the British Colonial Office), whose headquarters were at Suva. Mr. Robson added that the goodwill mission that was sent to Western Samoa recently by the New Zealand Government had made the confusion in the island worse. The mission had promised the Mau many concessions and reforms, but there would be trouble when the natives realised that the gesture did not mean self-govern-ment. Nothing had been done to provide for the future of the 3500 halfcastes, whose hatred for New Zealand had been responsible for much of the trouble. - REPLY TO CRITICISM Mr. O. F. Nelson’s Letter to Prime Minister When the remarks of Mr. R. W. Robson concerning the political situation in Samoa were referred to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, he commented that Mr. O. F. Nelson, who recently returned to Samoa, was in a better position to sum up the political situation in Samoa than Mr. Robson. The Prime Minister said he had received a memorandum from Mr. Nelson, who made the following observations in a covering letter: — “I am only sorry that time did not permit of my doing more toward the end of bringing into fruition the generous policy of the New Zealand Government while the Ministerial delegation was here, but the foundation has been laid for mutual goodwill and confi- ’ deuce, which is the basis of good relations between governors and governed; and the co-operation between the Mau and the Administration, which I shall do my utmost t$ foster, augurs well for the future. The responsibility placed upon the Samoans to restore the conduct of their own local affairs has already borne good results in that many minor differences in the villages and the districts, which might have led to major issues, have been settled by the good offices of the Samoan chiefs and kept out of court. The term ‘malo.’ which applied only to such Samoans who held office in the Administration. will soon apply to the whole of the Samoans, especially after the Mau has taken part in the,election or. selection of their own representatives to the Faipule Fono, the Legislative Council, and other public offices.” Mr. Nelson thanked the Government for his return to his homeland, and for the opportunity thus given him to serve his people and the mandatory Government. He expressed his best wishes for the long continuance in office of the present Government.