POLITICAL POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 12

POLITICAL POSITION

REPLY TO CRITICISM

MR. NELSON'S LETTER

Brief reference to the political position in Samoa was made by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) today when his attention was .called to a cablegram fgom Sydney (published on the cable page of this issue) reporting the remarks of Mr. R. W. Robson, editor of the "Pacific Islands Monthly," regarding the administration of Western Samoa.

Mr. Savage remarked that Mr. O. F. Nelson, who recently returned ' to Samoa, was in a better position to sum up the political situation in Samoa than Mr. Robson. The Prime Minister stated that he had received from Mr. Nelson a memorandum outlining the position in Samoa, and in a covering letter Mr. Nelson said:—

"I am only sorry that time did not permit of my doing more towards the end of bringing into fruition the generous policy of the New Zealand Government while the Ministerial delegation was here, but the foundation has been laid for mutual good will and confidence, which is the basis of good relations between governors and governed; and the co-operation between the Man and the Administration, which I shall do my utmost to foster, augurs well for the future. The responsibility placed upon the Samoans to resme the conduct of their own local afEairs has already borne good results in that many minor differences in the villages and the districts, which might have led to major issues, have been settled by' the good offices of the Samoan chiefs and kept out of Court. The term 'malo,' which applied only to such Samoans who held office in the Administration, will soon apply to the whole of the Samoans, especially after the Mau has taken part in the election or selection.of their own representatives to the Faipule Fono\ the Legislative Council, and other public offices." Mr. Nelson thanks the Government for his return to his homeland, and for the opportunity thus given him to serve his people and the mandatory Government. He expresses his best wishes for the long continuance in office of the present Government.