REFORMS IN SAMOA

Evening Post, Issue 12, 14 July 1936, Page 9

REFORMS IN SAMOA

STATUS OF PEOPLE

MISSION AND THE MAU

FIVE POINTS RAISED

(From the Special Representative of the United Press Association with the Official New Zealand Mission.)

APIA, June 30.

Five points were submitted to the good-will delegates from New Zealand, the Hon. F. Langstone and Mr. J. O'Brien, M.P., when they met representatives of the Mau at Vaimoso yesterday. The requests, which were put in writing and handed to the delegation by Faumuina, president of the Mau, were as follows:—

1. "What is our present status in our own country? 2. We ask for the removal of all harsh laws employed in Samoa and not in New Zealand. 3. We ask for reparation of our valuable goods destroyed by the New Zealand Forces and consideration for families of those who died, also those who were wounded and suffered at the hands of the New Zealand Forces and policy, including those who were sent to gaol. 4. We ask for reparation of the money expended by us in this controversy in the cost of litigation in respect of the harsh laws imposed upon us. ii. We ask that all positions in- the Government be open to Samoans according to their knowledge and ability. : The Minister, who replied to the points in the order in which they were submitted, said that the Samoans were under the protection of the British flag, and therefore were on an equal status with the people of New Zealand. A Samoan chief interposed that under German rule Samoa was a protectorate, and not a mandated territory. • TKUST A SACRED ONE. The Minister said that New Zealand had an obligation to the League of Nations to administer Western Samoa. The trust was a sacred one. If the League decided that the country should be handed back to Germany, then the Dominion would have no option but to hand it over. Personally, he hoped that would not happen. New Zealand had a responsibility to educate and train the Samoans to the point; where they could practically administer their own affairs, and to overcome some of the difficulties he was prepared to recommend the Prime Minister to increase the Samoan representation in the Samoan Legislative Council from two to four and to arrange to refer to New Zealand any representations from a large minority which opposed any particular Ordinance. The proposal, if adopted, would give greater weight to Samoan opinion. The Government was anxious to promote the best possible relations between the people and the Administration and no effort would be spared to achieve that ideal. The Minister said that in order to provide the Samoan with a greater income an endeavour would be made, to increase the price paid to the grower of bananas from 4s 6d to 5s a case during the balance of the present contract, which would expire in December next. Representations had been made by the merchants that the export tax of £ 1 10s a ton on copra was hampering them in their trading, as compared with Fiji, which only had to find 2s Gd a ton. The merchants had given an assurance that any r reduction;Jn the export tax would be passed oh to growers. "■" The position was that about i 4,000 tons of copra were exported from Western Samoa every year, and the tax of £1 10s brought in £21,000 in revenue. If a reduction were made consideration would have to. be given to the question of making up that loss. About £100,000 was required yearly to run , Western Samoa. He trusted that the problem would be gone into fully by the Samoan people themselves. Coming to question number two, the Minister said that the delegation was in complete sympathy with the re r quest. No harsh laws would be permitted, and if there were any still in existence they would be removed at the earliest possible moment. A meeting of the Legislative Council would be called to revoke the regulations affecting the Mau. So far as the- next question was concerned, it was impossible for the Government to consider granting compensation for goods destroyed and lives lost during the trouble a few years ago. The Labour Party could not hold itself responsible for what had occurred in the past, but so long as it remained the Government it would accept full responsibility for any acts in the future. All the money in the world could not bring back the late Tamasese or compensate the people of Samoa for their suffering. "A NEW DAY." "What we want to do," continuedHhe Minister, "is to start out on a new day. Let us go forward united in friend- . ship, and let us forget the past even although it may hurt our hearts." Dealing with the request for a refund of money spent in litigation, Mr. Langstone said that people ,in New Zealand had spent tens of thousands of pounds fighting for justice. With the election of Labour many of their wrongs had been righted, but the money they had spent in bringing about the political change had gone foi ever. That, after all, must necessarily be so.\ He hoped the Samoans would look at things in the same light. - In replying to question number five, Mr. Langstone said A was the policy of the present Government to make openings for Samoans with ability, and where possible that policy would be given effect to. New Zealand hoped that some day Samoa would be able to govern itself, and to show the world a lead-in certain directions. Every European official in the territory was required to deal with the natives as sympathetically as possible and to acquaint himself with their problems. A departmental officer was alleged to have stated that there was to be no charige in the administration, in the personnel, or in the form of Government. Every official, high or low, would be expected to carry out the policy of the Government, .and if he failed he would be replaced. ' ■ "All we are concerned about is your welfare," added the Minister. "We are anxious that our name will shine high as the sun and that it will not be tarnisheds by the dark cloud of worry and turmoil." ; DISPELLING DOUBT. Mr. O'Brien said he hoped that as a result of the meeting that day any doubt or suspicion in the minds of the Samoans as to the delegates' honesty of purpose would be dispelled. Mr. Langstone and himself had set their hearts on bringing about good will among all the people, and* he trusted they would not go away disappointed. Samoa should be thankful that it was under the British Flag, because without that protection it might find itself in the hands of some uncivilised country. The Abyssinians were a brave people, and although they had fought valiantly science arid modern methods of warfare had robbed them of their country. "We won't allow anything like that to take place in Samoa," said Mr. O'Brien. "The British Empire is standing behind you. We want you to lead your own lives and to be as happy

as possible in what we. believe is the most wonderful country In the world. We want to see you united among yourselves, and you can rest assured we will do everything possible to meet your wishes."

The meeting ended with expressions of good will from the Mau chiefs.