SAMOAN DELEGATION

Grey River Argus, 4 August 1936, Page 5

SAMOAN DELEGATION

RETURN TO DOMINION Review of Work EXCELLENT OUTLOOK. /■Pnr Prom, ) uunoiation ' CIIRiSTCIIFRCIL August 3. The visit of Ihe Goodwill delegatwin Io Samoa was a complete success, said Mr. Laiigstone. on his arrival it Lyttelton- on the Maui Fomare. loday. The delegation, which consisted ot Mr. Laiigstone and Mr. (1 Brien, accomminied by Mr. A. AV. Mulligan as private secretary, left Wellington on June 16 and was in the territory for four weeks. The Maui Poniarc ran into really rough weather soon after leaving Num on her voyage to Lyttelton, and weather conditions were rough throughout the whole of the voyage. At times <he was only making between four and five knots on Friday. When the ship was lurching through heavy sea. Mr:-, O'Brien, who whs accompanying her husband on the vovage, was tossed out of a chair ,in which she was sitting while talking to Mr. Langstone, anil thrown across the cab'n. She badly injured an arm. and will have to undergo medical examination. One result of the mission will be an early survey of the Government steamer Maui Fomare. with a view to. aseerta’n'ng her suitability to continue in the Island service. Both Mr. Laiigstone and Air, O Brien liavle formed an unfavourable impression of the vessel, particularly during her return trip to New Zealand when she encountered very rough weather.

Mr. O’Brien advanced the opinion that a bigger, faster and better equipped vessel was needed to replace Ihe Maui Fomare.

The Minister. while agreeing with Air. O’Brien, that the ship had niany unsu’table points for the service in which she wa- engaged, thinks that she can be brought up to full requirements bv making improvements particularly 'in regard to the aecommoL' tion for the crew. If Germany has her way and ' ■' colonies are restored lo her. the people of al least one ex-German colony Will not view the prospect with any tn our. Air. Langstone -aid. to-day that the people would much preler to remain under the British flag. There had been much discussion in regard to their status, some of them thinking that they were a protectorate. He had explamed that under the Mandated control, it was the duty of the New Zealand Government to assist tliem to become self-governing, and also they had the advantage of becoming naturalised British .subjects if they wished.

‘‘Tt would be imposing a grievous Ira I'd-liip on tho Samoans to return them to Germany.” Air. Laiigstone tieclared.

Air. Langstone said that for the past ten vears relationship between the Samoan people and the Administration had been anything but satisfactory, and certainly not conducive to friendly co-openil ion and understanding. “ L think- 1 am safe in saying,” he said “that as the result of our visit the mistrust. grievances and misunderstand’ng of the past have been cleared away, and that Samoa, to-day, is a united people, determined to work in harmony with the Administration.” “To achieve this result it was necessary to prove to the Samoan h’gh chief’s and orators that the New Zealand Government was sincere iu its desire to effect a satisfactory settlement. As u first step in that direction we obtained approval of the Prime Al.ini.-ter to revoke those ordinances which were repugnant to the Alau. who represent a large majority of the Samoan public opinion. The ordinances that were thus repealed were as follow:

(1) Samoa,) offenders ordinance I 1922. under which the Administration was empowered to banish individuals from their villages and to cancel Samoan titles; (2) Native personal and medical tax ordinances; (3) Proclamation under which the Alan was declared a seditious organisation; (4) Restrictions upon free movement of the individual within the territory. We were anto aide to announce that the Government had decided to cancel the arrears of native personal and medical taxes amounting to almost £28.000, to remit the balance of the. term of exile imposed on O. Fl Nelson, and to increase by (id per case the price paid by the Administration to banaim exporters of whom GO per cent, are Samoans. This decision brought about a revival of confidence in the New Zealand Government, and in the Administration, and led subsequently to a complete understanding with the native people, based upon the following recommendations. which will be placed before the Prime Minister: (1) To increase the number of Samoan representatives ou the Legislative Council from two to four. (2) 'To pay to members of the Legislative Council. other than official members. an honorarium of £5O per annum. (3) To pay to Fautuas Native advisers to the Administrator an honorarium of £lO per annum. (4) To arrange for the setting up of a Finance Committee consisting of three representatives of the Samoan race and one of the European community, before which committee will be placed fidl information about the public accounts, revenue, taxation and expenditure. (5) To publish in “Savali” (the Samoan Gazette) in the native language, full information about the public accounts. (6) To make provision for the Legislative Council to disclose the estimates of the territory prior to despatch to New Zealand for the approval of the Government, and to forward in regard to revenue and expenditure, the recommendations by the Council (7) To revoke immediately the present Folio of Faitules (Native Advisory Council), and to arrange tor re-election on September 30 next, so that with the Alan participating, the Fouo will be fully representative of the Samoan people. (8) To extend the present system of education in the Administration schools by providing for free tuition, a higher standard of .education, and the establishment of secondary schools. (9) To extend the present hospital and central system throughout the territory, with a view, of bringing medical and hospital treatment within the reach of every Samoan. (10) Te secure the services of a

oualified dentist- to provide free dental treatment for school children, and wit |, a v : -ow later of establishing a complete school dental system for the mandated territory. (11) To arrange for the taking ot a census for the end of the year. Delegation’s Work FOUNDATION LAID. FOR LASTING AAIITA’ CHRISTCHURCH. August 3. Hon. F. Lang-tone, stated: — ‘•One of the questions which greatly concerned the Samoans was that o their status under the Mandate. Ale explained that the Mandate was, a sacred trust, handed to the New Zealand Government bv the League of Nations and that although a Samoan was not a British subject, by virtue of that Mandate, he was a free citizen with rights and privileges equal to those enjoyed by New Zealand citizens. Tn addition, he was specially protected bv New Zealand, Great Britain and the League of Nations from molestation by any foreign power. We further pointed out that everything possible would be done to assist Samoa to become a romnlcte sol I- go verning community, and that, as the law stood to-day, it was competent for any Samoan to become a naturalised British subject, if he so. desired. These explanations were well received, and it was clear that they dispelled the doubt which had long been in the mind of the Samoan. Ant ieipating that the natives desired a greater share in the government of their country, we made provision to increase Samoan representation on the Legislative. Council, to set up a special Finance Committee to co-operate with the Administration; to publish full information about their own allairs in the Samoan Gazette; and to empower the Legislative Council to discuss the Estimates of the territory, and to make recommendations accordingly. These proposals were' discussed at, every meeting, and were readily accepted bv the natives as a iuithei evidence 'of the New Zealand Government’s desire to assist, them to obtain self-government as soon as practicable. Every hour at. the disposal of the delegation while in Samoa was tally occupied. Apart from many and prolonged meetings held with native icpresontatives, we received a large number of deputations from the European section of the community on such subjects as indentured labour, unemployment. land settlement, conditions of labour, adjustment of mortgages and prices of marketing of produce. In addition, the delegation spent, in all ten days inspecting native villages in the outlying districts of both islands, which, owing to the difficulty of access, necessitated long journeys by launch, and on toot, flic Samoans are a dignified ami lovable people, and, with a. sympathetic administration, earning their full confidence, thiere should bo no more serious misunderstandings. We trust, that, as the result of the sound foundation we. have laid, the fitness of the Dominion to administer this territory will not again be called into question. “Air O’Brien and I are deeply grateful to the acting-Administrator. Air. A. C. Turnbull, and his executive officers for the thought and preparation given to the delegation’s itinerary, which 'resulted in our gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the Samoan people and of their affairs. We wish also publicly to express our appreciation of the able manner in which all of the officers co-operated with us in making the work of the mission the success it has been,”