LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 5 September 1929, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

REPORT ON SAMOAN AFFAIRS. HON. T. K. SIDEY’S STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. Replying to Sir Francis Bell’s criticism in support of his motion expressing regret that the recommendations of the officers who recently reported on the I Civil Service and finance in Samoa had been made without duo regard for the principles hitherto' observed in the performance •of the Dominion’s duties under the mandates, the Hon. T. K. Sidcy said in. the Legislative Council to-day that he wanted to show there was another side to the question. Sir Francis, continued Mr Sidey, had said he did not wish to attack the officers who had reported, but Mr Sidey submitted that the charges could only be construed in that way. Sir Francis Bell’s speech was one of the. most extraordinary he had heard, for the offi cors who wore criticised had been appointed by the Reform Government, of which Sir Francis was a member. He' asked what more competent officers 1 could have been, found for the purpose! than the Public Service Commissioner I and the second in command of the Treasury, laud added that it wais only natural that the third member should have been the Secretary of the External Affairs Department. Mr Sidey pointed out that the recommendations had been generally endorsed by the Administrator, who also had been appointed by the late Government. Sir Francis Bell, then, was on the horns of a dilemma. Either lie must accept the recommendations' or condemn the Government of which he had been ia member.

Mr Sidey went on to reply in turn, to various points of tho criticism made by Sir Francis, and said that while lie could not refer to them all he was satisfied there wais' a sufficient reply in each ease. Tho recommendations of the committee must be regarded in the light of the trouble existing in Samoa. He contended tho members of the committee 'had acted with the best intentions and could not be blamed if in some, respects they had shown a lack of judgment. Complaint had been made of the military 'Spirit of the administration in Samoa, but how else were the natives to be dealt with when they refused to pay their taxes? continued Mr Sidey. Conditions in Samoa wctc entirely different from the normal conditions New Zealanders were accustomed to and had to be viewed in that light. In regard toi one of the main points of Sir Francis Bell’s criticism, the recommendation that the Samoan budget should be balanced without aid from New Zealand, Mr Sidey pointed out that Air Coates had instructed the officials before they left if possible to eliminate or reduce the financial calls by Samoa on the New Zealand taxpayer.' Air Sidey said he had been wondering what would have been Sir Francis Bell’s attitude to the report if the late Government had remained in office. Sir Francis Bell: It would not have been published. Air Sidey said Sir Francis Bell could not have taken up the same position in the Council without being disloyal to the administration of which he was a member.

In reply, Sir Francis Bell asked leave to withdraw the motion. He expressed disappointment at Air Sidey’s' -reply on certain questions and said he had meant in his motion that certain of the recommendations in the report were inconsistent with New Zealand’s duty under tho mandate. Ho had not been convinced Air Sidey did not entirely agree with him in that view. In fact, he believed he did agree, although it- was difficult for him to say so. Sir Francis said lie had not attacked the integrity of the officers; only their ignorance of the duty New Zealand had undertaken as mandatory and their ignorance of tropical conditions. The motion wals 1 withdrawn and the Council adjourned at 4.20 p.m. until tomorrow.