MR. NELSON'S RETURN TO SAMOA

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 10

MR. NELSON'S RETURN TO SAMOA

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The question ' asked of the Prime Minister in Parliament on Monday, 6th instant, reveals 'the mind behind the Samoan policy of previous Governments responsible for continuous unrest in the Mandated Territory. The-Prime Minister's reply disclosed the Big Mind which promises great achievements favourable to the people of New Zealand and its Protectorates. The undertaking given me by Mr. Savage, that my exile will be remitted unconditionally, was a display of great statesmanship, because such a demonstration of confidence in the honour of one's fellow-men creates more binding obligations than all the harsh laws inflicted upon the writer and his Samoan compatriots by past Governments.'. !

The first task of the new Government will necessarily be to clean up the debris of long years of misrule over a proud but peace-loving people. That will be by giving unbiased consideration to the accumulated complaints and grievances of the Samoans, which' previous Governments have feared to look into, ostensibly because of their responsibility for them. When that has been satisfactorily accomplished, as I am sure it will be, would the honourable member for Waitomo protest if I were then to "resume the agitation to stir up the Mau majority of the Samoans" to co-operate with the present Government in all measures decided upon for the good of Samoa and the Samoans, and thus convert "the loyal natives ' supporting the Administration" from a very small, section consisting of the paid native officials to over 95 per cent, of the whole population? The New Zealand Administration in Samoa will then, for the first time, be able to function effectively, because it will have rightly obtained, the confidence and good will of the people.—l am.^etc, O. F. NELSON.

Auckland," April 7.