OUR MANDATE ISLANDS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 4 September 1923, Page 6

OUR MANDATE ISLANDS

The Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, in its reports upon the administration of Nauru and Western Samoa, shows no disposition to regard its duties as a mere formality. It asks for information upon a number of points. To this request, however, there can be no objection. The procedure which caused annoyance to Australia and New Zealand last year was the publication of criticism based upon misunderstanding, before the mandatory Powers were given an opportunity of explaining what did not appear clear to the Commission. The information now sought concerning Samoa, with which New Zealand is particularly concerned, does not suggest any laxity or negligence by the Administration. New Zealand can, with an easy mind, furnish full information re-, garding the relations between the

Administration and the native authorities, and the disposal of revenue from native leases. In the two branches of administration concerned with these inquiries it may safely be said that New Zealand has spared no pains to do full justice to the native population. By education and diligent encouragement of the Samoan leaders New Zealand has endeavoured to bring the natives into more intimate contact with the Administration. Likewise, in the disposal of revenue from all sources, the primary object has been the advantage of the Samoan population. So far from making a profit from its duties as a mandatory Power, New Zealand has suffered loss. This may not "be highly satisfactory to the people of New Zealand, but it at least clears them from any suggestion of exploitation.