CIVIC GATHERING

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

CIVIC GATHERING

"THE, PEARL OF THE PACIFIC."

A very warm-welcome to Wellington was extended to the Samoan chiefs at the' Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening.. Although the hour—7 o'clock—was' not a very, suitable one from the point of view of the--p"ublio,-'there was. a large attendance, and the Faipule received a. .very flattering reception. . . - ' ' ■ The. Mayor . (Mr. R. A. Wright) ex- : tended a very cordial welcome to their guests.' It gave, then} pleasure :to' receive • distinguished representatives" of Samoa, as Mew Zealand had very great interests in the country and the Samoan people. New Zealand had followed Samoa's '.■ unfortunate history, their tribal wars which prevented progress, their three-power regime when they were governed by three different cbuntries, their control by. German;,-, their occupation by New Zealand, and finally their "government by the British Empire., AH.those changes tended always to "keep them back, but they believed, that now. Samoa had been associated with New Zealand their troubles would end -and they would: have a glorious future. • New.Zea : land had been the guardians of the Maori people,, who resembled them in more than ■ one direction, / 'and' they wanted the ; Samoan . people". to ■ occupy the-same position as was occupied by the Maoris. The^same good feeling that' existed between the Maoris and the people-of New' Zealand would :exist between, the New Zealahders and the Samoans. ■ There'were four Maoris in the New Zealand Parliament, and would not the day come; when Samoa" would send* representatives to the. N«w.Zealand Parliament? It was the desire \6f;the New Zealand people to help the Samoans, to allow them to work out their own destiny. ... "■• -'.■■•■'.■'..; ...•;■■ '■■' •;. ">y- ■ ■••., . ln reply, Toelupe returned thanks to the Mayor, councillors, and the people of.Wellington for their welcome., They were strangers in New. Zealand,-: but the time was now ripe for them to pay visits to ;< this country,-as the flag; which was flying over- New Zealand was the earns at .that which flew • over Samoa. (Loud applause.) They were visiting ■ a new world, and were seeing things which they had never seen before. They had also had the opportunity, of meeting the Maoris, and they felt that they were of the came people. The kindness of the people of New Zealand had struck them wherever they had, gone. Samoa was like a child which had not yet learnt to walk, but New. Zealand was like an adult. They had not had a stable Government in. Samoa, and; that fact had -retarded their progress. They felt that they would* be. led along the paths of progress. Samoa was now a part of New' i.ealand, and they had come v to,leaVn ; all they could; so that they might march towards prosperity. They thanked New Zealand fornhelp in edvationaL. and medical matters, and they were taking full.advantage of that assistance. -They were absolutely satisfied with their form of government, particularly with 'their Administrator (General Richardson). Theyj looked upon New Zealand as their guardians, and looked forward to pro-' grass . Toelupe said that the chiefs would: be in Wellington for. some days, and they hoped. to learn much during that tune. It .had been said by visitors to bamoa that the Samoans did not work • but he asked them.to remember that Samoa v was a ,■ very : warm country: (Laughter.) However, he could assure tnem that some Samoans vwrked very much harder: than : ,th e white people (Laughter.) They would return to st moa much struck by all. they had seen m. New Zealand, but tHey woufd always remember thai. Samoa As the "3 pLuse!) '^ ■'■ (L^ter and^ ap,v Following the reception,.' the Faipule' were^the guests ;of the City Council at the ordinary, business1 meeting;