THE MELBOURNE AGE ON SAMOA.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 141, 13 December 1894, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE AGE ON SAMOA.

♦ I UNITKD PRKBB ASSOCIATION. 1. (Reoeived December 13, 12^30 p m.) Melbourne, This Dat. The' Age says i^ is .significant of the contempt for colonial opinion on mattors of colonial concern entertained by a seotion of Bnciety in the Mother Country that the Westminster Gazette has suggested the cession of Samoa to Germany in exchange for certain territory in Africa. If Lord Bosebery fully understood the Samoan position, he would have Beon that tbe New Zealand proposal was an eminently practical one 'New Zealand understands how to manage the natives, who are .moreover anxiqus for the New Zealand connection, and it is, pretty certain that a New Zealand administration would, speedily put an end to the native wars, and, start the islanders on a career of productive industry . Tho New Zealand proposal offered a loophole to the three parties to the Berlin Treaty to escape from an embarrassing situation without losb of dignity or prestige. Ihe whole incident is suggestive that little or no interest is taken in colonial affairs* by Imperial Ministers, who evidently consider such small matters as this Samoan affair may be abandoned to subalterns and Bottled by agreement with foreign embassies.