The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1936. A TACTLESS BLUNDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12919, 22 July 1936, Page 4

The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1936. A TACTLESS BLUNDER.

It is clear that the Goodwill .Mission to Samoa is not making much headway, despite its lavish promises to the people on behalf of the Government. What would appear to be the position is that, so far. all that the Hon. Mr. Lanestone and Mr. O’Brien have done with the object of “sweetening” tho Samoans has be cm unavailing. To many, it may have seemed. at tho time, that it was a happy stroke, on the ‘ pa-rt of the New Zeabmd delegation to announce that the Alan adherents had been frecti from alt political and administrative restrictions. What was not foreseen, however, was that, with thcr restoration of all lost privileges, the Mail section, of tho Samoans would revert to their claim of “Samoa for the Samoans.” Apparently, tho Doniinion’s delegates worn not so well versed in Polvnesian customs as should have been tho case. It should, for instance. have been realised that the Samoans are not nearly so far advanced as the Maoris. To-day, tho high chiefs of Samoa wield power as great a did the Maori rangatiras a century ago. In all the circumstances, it -should not have come as a surprise to the members of the Goodwill Mission to find that the old order in Samoa is still so influential that 't cannot be ignored. The • Mail has plainly within its ranks many who hold that Samoa should be left alone to work out her own destiny untrammelled by pakeha ideas. A display of evidence to that effect appears :o have angered Air Langstone. It was, however, not tactful on. his port to adopt an aggressive; attitude and it is doubtful if the Hon. O. Nelson, v hen he returns, to Samoa to-day, will bo able in the short period before the delegation’s departure to heal tho wound which Air. Langstone has so unnecessarily occasioned. There can ha nc question but that no one liris anytiring like so stiong an influence, with the' Alan as Air. Nelson possesses. Such being the case, the conferences that have, so far. been held may prove to have been a sheer waste of time. When the matter conies to bo summed up, it is plain that the Samoans are quite ready to take' any concessions which this Dominion may offer. As far as the Alan section is concerned, however, it does not. in return intend to give up its claim that Samoa should be awarded self-gov-ernment. It. would amount to an extraordinary state of affairs if New Zealand stiould, in due course, be handicapped with a Samoan Free State! On thinking things over, Air. Langstone should now realise that the mission is likely to gain nothing at all from his angry outburst.