SAMOAN POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 28 January 1929, Page 11

SAMOAN POLICY

EX-MINISTER'S VIEWS

OPPOSED TO DEPORTATIONS

The hope that New Zealand would reconsider its Sarnoan policy, especially in regard to deportations, the denuding of nativo chiefs of their heroditary titles, and the failuro to grant real representation to the Samoan taxpayer, wan expressed by Sir Maui Pomare, a member of tho Reform Government, and for some years Minister for tho Cook Islands, in the course of an interview. "It would not bo a sign of weakness," remarked Sir Maui, "if tho Government said to the Sarnoans: 'Let's bury tho hatchet and make a fresh start.' This takes a strong man to do, and the Samoans would realise that, because they know tho Government, must be victorious by means of arms or otherwise."

A good deal of the Samoan trouble, explained Sir Maui, was caused through criticism by native sympathisers of the financial methods of tho Administration and tho taxation of natives without direct representation. The principle always recognised in British countries had been denied Samoans. "They havo a pseudo council," remarked Sir Maui, "but this Fono of Faipules lias no authority, . however. We find in Samoa a system of government unparallellcd in any British country, where the public servant is also a master, because lie is appointed to tho legislature. Our public servants in New Zealand have to resign before they can even contest a scat for Parliament. These official nominees have no stake in Samoa, but the native, who is a permanent resident and the taxpayer, is denied representation on this council."

It was suggested by Sir Maui Pomarc that the Government could gradually bring about a groat improvement in tho attitude of tho Saraoans to the Administration, and also lesson the heavy, financial burden on New Zealand by training Samoans to take positions in tho public service. This was the policy he adopted in tho administration of the Cook Group, with the result that six European officials wore all who were needed to control the group with its population of 12,000. REMOVING MILITARY ELEMENT. "I think it will help to removo the Samoan difficulty," said Sir Maui, "if tho Government decided to make a prompt effort to reduce the top-heavy system of control, getting rid of the military element as fast as possible, and train Samoans to assist in governing then- country. New Zealand adoptod this plan in the Cook Group, whore wo had to start do novo with our education. SamOa is more advanced in that respect. We gradually trained Cook islanders to take up positions, and when wo introduced the most modern developments, radio communication, we trained native boys in New Zealand to run tho plants, with the result that only ono European head is needed. Natives aro running tho wireless stations with credit to themselves at a quarter of the cost of a European staff, and they aro happy becauso they are .at home. Some of the medical work will also bo done in the same way in tho near future, as .wo have Cook islanders being' trained at tho Eoekefellor Institute, Fiji, a threeyear course enabling them to become efficient assistant medical officers. Samoa has also sent pupils to this school. Samoa ia not a country fov Europeans and.never will bo, therefore it is, wise to utilise the Samoan for the government of his own country. "Perhaps as a Polynesian myself I may err on tho sido of • generosity, '' concluded Sir Maui, "but I am hoping that Now Zealand, which has such n fine record in its association with tho Maori, will reconsider its Samoan policy of deportation, tho denuding of native chiefs of their hereditary titles, and the failure to grant real representation to tho Samoan taxpayer. Wo cannot progress without public works, which moans taxation, and this is realised by tho Samoans. Lot us work harmoniously with them, extend the franchiso to Samoans, and let us wipe out tho past." . *.