LOCAL PROGRAMME COMMENCED

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1924, Page 9

LOCAL PROGRAMME COMMENCED

OPENING A NEW WORLD TO

* THEM

Tb.9 eight Samoan faipule, or native chiefs, who are visiting the Dominion

as the guests of the Government, commenced their local programme yesterday, and they will be busily occupied for some days until their departure for Auckland on 23rd December with the arrangements; that have been made for their entertainment and for visits to various institutions and localities. •■■ '

The visitors are ot particularly dignified demeanour, and as keen observers they are intensely interested in everything that.is being shqwn them. Their cariosity for many of the objects of iii•pection is natural, for with one exception they have never before been out of their own territory. To some extent, then, their visit to New Zealfend, isl opening up to them.a new world. They are singularly handsome men, and from the point of.view of the Polynesian rijees. : they are highly intellectual.' The object of the tour is togive them. ;aii insight into European methods of 'local Government, industrial.and agricultural organisation, and generally to instruct them in the administration of the ■ country so that they may. apply new and up-to-date ideas in the control of village affairs in their island home. •

'This morning the faipule /inspected the Pet one Woollen Mills, lunch being taken with,--Sir Francis.: Bell and Lady Bell at Lowry Bay. The .afternoon will be spent at the residence'of Sir Maui Pomare and Lady Pomare at Lower Hutt, where the. faipule will meet a representative gathering of Maoris. While in .Wellington the faipule are •taying at .the V.M.C.A. -They, were ■welcomed at the V.M.C.A. men's meeting on Sunday afternoon, and later were entertained at tho strangers' tea. On behalf-of the association, Mr. H. D. Grocott extended, a/hearty welcome to the visitors, and assured them that anything the Y;M.C.A; could do to make their. visit pleasant would be gladly done;1. The Rev. A. W, M'Millan; the representative' of the .New " Zealand V.M.C.A. among the' Indians in Fiji, was also present; and addressed a few appropriate words to the: chiefs. In reply, the' faipule, through their interpreter, expressed their sincere thanks, not only for th« kindness that had been shown them by the.V.M.C.A. in the centres they had visited, but also for the way in- which they had been treated.by the New Zealand people as a whole. Among other things,' they had, been greatly interested in the work of the V.M.C.A., and they,,would like;to see something of the kind starttd in Samoa for/their young1 men/- The singing of some well-known hymns, in jwhichithe faipule took part, terminated a' very happy function.'., . ' -"'■: . .