ECHOES FROM SAMOA.

Evening Star, Issue 20614, 14 October 1930, Page 14

ECHOES FROM SAMOA.

TO Til BDITOB. Sir, —In your issue of Friday last you publish a report of a lecture by the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, in which is contained a good deal of matter relative to Samoa and her people. While some of the statements are in keeping with past events and evidence adduced, there are portions which I do not think can he so classed. The lecturer says he is a reader of the ‘Samoan Guardian,’ and was not surprised that two issues of this paper had been confiscated by the New Zealand Government, as the paper had published many scurrilous statements. I, too, now and again read this paper, but have not seen anything in it to warrant confiscation, unless it is because it criticises tliose in authority and holding responsible positions. _ The dictionary meaning of scurrilous is coarse and abusive. Well, it is_ all a question of how each person views and interprets these phrases, and against whom, etc., they are directed. I would direct the reverend gentleman to open his Bible and turn to the twenty-third chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel and read it through. The language Christ is supposed to have used, according to St. Matthew’s version, was certainly strong, but no, doubt the circumstances warranted it. “Woe unto you, hypocrites, ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, now can ye escape the damnation of hell,” and further on: “ Whereof re, behold, I send you prophets and wise men and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.” I ask the Rev. Mr Sinclair, is it not so to-day ? Mr Sinclair says Sir George Richardson, as Administrator, was a man of fine Christian ideals, and very interested in the work of the missionaries. He had stated that the missionaries were the best friends the natives ever had, etc. Just so, but might it not be that their work is suitable to make the Samoans more susceptible to our Administration, which, according to the evidence of the late high chief Tamasese, is not what the Samoans desire at all. Tamasese says; “I do know that the Samoans will be satisfied to have Samoa for the Samoans, as the Samoans do not want New Zealand; all they want is to be let alone.” I would also refer Mr Sinclair to the late Sir Maui Pomare’s historic speech in Parliament on the debate on the Samoan Amendment Act; 1927, when he definitely exEressed his opposition to the policy of is own party in Samoa, and warned the then Prime Minister, Mr Coates, that the Samoans should he wooed and not coerced, and quoted Portia’s “Mercy” speech to imply that not one drop of Samoan blood must be shed. The lecturer believes the Samoans should be self-governed. This is hopeful evidence, and I believe sound advice. Will it he acted on? He says, further, that he is not going to say who is to blame for the trouble, but more patience must be exercised in the future government of these _ islands. This also is hopeful, but will it be acted on? Past events do not seem hopeful, hut still the memory of them may he the leaven to bring about the conditions and object which Mr Sinclair believes ought to prevail, and in this he is supported by the late Sir Maui Pomare, also one of the best friends the Samoans had.—l am, etc., P, Neilson. October 13.