FUTURE OF SAMOA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4815, 12 March 1918, Page 5

FUTURE OF SAMOA.

CHRISTCHURCH COUNCILLOR’S EXTRAORDINARY VIEWS. Press Assoeia tion Telegram. CHRISTCHURCH, March 11. liie Auckland Oity Council*s resolution urging the retention of Samoa a ™ el ' tllG . ' var > came before the City Council this evening. It was moved and seconded “That the niotion be endorsed” but Cr E- J■ Howard moved an amendment “That the question be referred to the peace conference to deal with.” Speaking in support, he said he was not going to suggest it, but Auckland being so near Samoa the motion lent itself to the idea of selfinterest. He knew Samoa fairly well and declared that it was not worth one New Zealander’s Life, let alone the fact that it might mean the sacrifice of 10,000 or 20,000 men to retain it.. Labour was opposed to anything being taken by force. “We know by past- history,” lie said, “that if we hold Samoa it means the continuance of conscription in this country; that if We hold it, it means future war. Don’t let us do anything at this time to handicap our children and force our children and our children’s children to he cannon fodder.” In his opinion, lie continued, they should not do anything to prevent the peace conference being held. Cr Ada "Wells seconded the amendment. She said the people could not give Mr Masse v and Sir Joseph Ward a mandate except by referendum. The Mayor (Mr Holland) considered that it would be absolute suicide to allow our enemy, who stuck at nothing, to re-occupy the South Pacific Islands. Other Labor members of the Council supported Mr Holland’s views and the amendment was negatived, the motion being carried by 11 votes to four.