The Evening Star WEDNESDAY. JULY 20, 1927. SAMOAN UNREST.

Evening Star, Issue 19613, 20 July 1927, Page 6

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY. JULY 20, 1927. SAMOAN UNREST.

It was not a satisfactory debate which took place' yesterday in the House of Representatives on tho Samoan position. Apparently there would have been no debate at that stage if tho reluctance of Ministers to discuss the issue had not had to yield to the curiosity and concern of tho House. It was not much information that was given hy either Mr No.sworthy or the Prime Minister in their contributions to the discussion. Mr Coates urged that the House should retain an open mind until it possessed all the facts. That was admirable advice, but it involves the requirement on the Government’s part that the most precise information which it has to give should be imparted to the country just as soon as possible. An attitude which says not much more, in effect, on the definite causes of unrest than that “ We know what we know ” is not conducive to patience in the suspending of judgment. Mr Nosworthy claimed that the report, which he asked leave to tabic, dealing with his interview with the deputation from the Citizens’ Committee in Apia gave a reply to all the questions of the committee. A ‘‘categorical reply, it was called by the Prime Minister. But the only' juiswer made by Mr Nosvvorthy to the committee which the public has read, or with which tho House was acquainted when the debate took place, was a trouncing of it. The matter is important, because it is not only the Citizens’ Committee, including elected members of the Samoan Legislative Council, and a pioportion of natives who have made complaints against tho Administration in | Samoa. Sir Joseph Carruthers, an ex- j Premier of New South Males, whose Judgment should bo impartial, and who has been on the spot, has repeated Ids criticisms in no uncertain manner. Removals of chiefs without any regular trial have produced such a bad impression, according to his statement, that they nearly provoked an armed rising. It was the native loaders of the Samoans themselves—one might read from his statement the removed chiefs —who managed to dissuade their people from committing a breach of the peace. Samoa.” said this cx-Pro - ier, “was being governed with something worse oven than martial law, resembling, in fact, tho methods of Moscow.” That is a reflection on New Zealand’s control. which, coming from such a source, cannot possibly he allowed to rest where it does at present. The whole position must be cleared up. It is satisfactory that the allegations of an American novelist of a ‘state of unrest so sharp that, wheil ho left the islands, the natives wore singing war songs appears to have owed no little to his imagination. Mr Nosworthy’s answer to those statements was entirely effective. What arc tho native grievances? If tho Prohibition law makes one of them, that cannot be amended, either to please them or tho Europeans, who no doubt dislike it. There are 3(3,000 Samoans to some 2,500 Europeans. Tho interest of the natives must have first consideration. It has been urged as a grievance that the natives do not elect their own loading members to represent them in tho Fono of Faipules, Mr Coates has replied that in practice they do, and ho has described tho practice. But deportations, or even sequestration of chiefs or others, without regular trial would provide a grievance in any country. Under the Order in Council passed last month the New Zealand Government took power to deport any person from Samoa, European or native, whom it might judge to be a menace to peace and order. It is a scope which very easily might be made to include any person who might bo too critical of the Administration, and this power it is proposed now to make statutory. If the conditions of Samoa cause any need for such a Bill, it is plain that its provisions should only he applied as a last resort. The best information which we have at present on the conditions of Samoa is in the report of the Administrator, tabled in tbo House last night, and that report is unlikely to go any further than tho end of the last financial year. It refers to a “small local political agitation,” which some Europeans have encouraged for their own purposes. It is to bo feared that the trouble has grown since that report was penned. But each side to these contentions, according to, Sir Joseph Carruthers, can put up a very good prima facie case. It is time that tho two cases were put against each other and judicially considered. Then, if the Administration has made mistakes, it will bo possible to modify its methods. Mr Coates has stated that the Government welcomes an inquiry, ami is only considering whether it should be made by a select committee of the House, a joint committee of both Houses, or by way of a commission. It should not be a largo tribunal. The inquiry should be held as soon as possible, and all sides of opinion must have equal opportunity tp state their case before it*