SAMOAN MANDATE

Evening Post, Issue 30, 4 August 1936, Page 10

SAMOAN MANDATE

A SACRED TRUST

HOPE FOR FUTURE

RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, August 3.

"One of the questions which greatly concerned the Samoans that of their status under «the mandate," said the Hon. F. Langstone, leader of the New Zealand Good-will Mission to Samoa, which arrived at Lyttelton in the Maui Pomare today. The delegation spent four weeks in the territory.

"We explained that the mandate was a sacred trust handed to the New Zealand Government by the League^of Nations," Mr. Langstone said, "and th^t although a Samoan was not a British subject by virtue of that mandate he was a free citizen with rights and privileges equal to those enjoyed by New Zealand citizens. In addition he was specially i:rotected by New Zealand, Great Britain, and the League of Nations from molestation by a foreign Power,, We further pointed out that everything possible would be done to assist Samoa to become a complete self-governing community, and that as the law stood today it was competent for any Samoan to become a naturalised British subject if he so desired. These explanations were well received, and it was clear they dispelled the doubt which had long been in the mind of the Samoah.

"Anticipating that the natives desired a greater share in the government of their country we made a provision to increase the Samoan representation on the Legislative Council, to set up a special finance committee to co-operate with the Administration, to publish full information about their own affairs in the Samoan 'Gazette,' and to empower the Legislative Council to discuss the estimates of the territory and make recommendations. Accordingly these proposals were discussed at every meeting and were readily accepted by the natives as further evidence of the New Zealand Government's desire to assist them to obtain self-government as soon as practicable. PROBLEMS DISCUSSED. "Every hour at the disposal of the delegation while in Samoa was fully occupied. Apart from the many and prolonged meetings held with the native representatives, we received a large number of deputations from the European section of the community on such subjects as'indentured labour, unemployment, land settlement conditions of labour, adjustment of mortgages, and prices of the marketing of produce. . . . , "In addition the delegation spent in all ten days inspecting native villages in outlying districts of both islands which, owing to difficulty of access, necessitated long journeys by launch and on foot. "The Samoans are a dignified and lovable people, and with a sympathetic Administration earning their full conj fidence there should be no more :-serious misunderstandings. We trust that as a result of the sound foundation we have laid, the fitness of the Dominion to administer this territory will not again be called into question. "Mr. O'Brien and I are deeply grateful to the Acting Administrator, Mr. A. C. Turnbull, and his executive officers, for the thought and preparation given to the delegation's itinerary which resulted in our gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the Samoan people and of their affairs. We wish also publicly to express our appreciation of the able manner in which all the officers co-operated with us in making the work of the mission the success it has been."