SAMOA TROUBLE BREEDERS

Evening Star, Issue 19842, 16 April 1928, Page 8

SAMOA TROUBLE BREEDERS

SIR GEORGE RICHARDSON ON SITUATION NON-NATIVE MALCONTENTS WANT “ GOOD OLD DAYS ” LACK. tPM United Pbhss Association.] AUCKLAND, April 16. “ Any New Zealand Government officer who goes to Samoa and endeavours fearlessly and courageously to discharge his trust and to do his part to carry out the mandate in the interests of the native race sooner or later becomes an object of censure and misconception on the part of a small non-native section of the community in Apia, some of whom live in the past, and yearn for the return of the ‘good old days,’ when Apia was known as ‘ the hell of the Pacific,’ and when the natives were, comparatively speaking, non-progressive, diseased, and uncaredfor people.” Such was the statement of Majorgeneral Richardson to a ‘Star’ representative to-day, when he returned on the Tot'ua from Sydney, having completed a live years’ term ns Administrator of the mandated territory of Western Samoa. Sir George stated that ho would leave New Zealand next week en route lor Geneva, where lie will appear before the Mandates Committee of the League of Nations. “ Please make it quite clear that I could give a very full statement concerning tlie whole position, but 1 do not wish to do so until I have seen the Prime Minister and the Government,” added Sir George. Questioned concerning the new Administrator, Colonel Aliev, Sir George said flint, in his opinion, a right choice of appointment had been made. Colonel Allen was a fine man in every way, and should do well. “Of course, the trouble in Samoa has been fully dealt with in the report of the Royal Commission which sat last year. You ask mo why the trouble did not come to an end when the Royal Commission was over, and when its report had been given to the world. Some .'!00 native chiefs and orators wore heard by the Commission, and the truth was published. I can say that the, chief conspirators or loaders of this movement led the natives to believe that the Royal Commission was not the end of the matter.” “They led the natives to believe that they were going to take the matter further afield, to Geneva?” interjected the interviewer. “ 1 do not say that,” returned Sir George, U "but they led the natives to think that they had groat power, and could reverse the decision of the Royal Commission.”