SAMOAN IMPASSE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 7 September 1929, Page 4

SAMOAN IMPASSE.

“CRY QUITS AND START AGAIN.”

NATIVE MINISTER’S ADVICE. (Bv Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. That some formula should be devised to “save face” in regard to the Samoan difficulty, and that New Zealand should make a fresli start, was tile point to which Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, led up in a vividly interesting contribution to the Samoan debate in the House of Representatives to-day. He gave a picture of the Maori mind in. i-egaTd to the whole controversy, in order to enforce his opinion that the present attitude is not likely to lead' to a settlement. The white man in New Zealand, said the Minister, had determined to enforce laws and regulations which, under the circumstances, were unreasonable ; he would not say unjust, but unreasonable, because they were badly timed. “The Samoans, who were not ready to receive them, got themselves offside by not receiving those ordinances and regulations; therefore, in the eyes of the law r , they became law-breakers. Now this country is asking them, before; anything else is done, to put themselves on side. The Polynesian might argue technically, ‘I broke the- law' because, in my opinion, the law r was too hasty and unreasonable and beyond my capacity to observe.’ Would'it not be better for the parent in New Zealand to consider whether lie should) not make a concession in regard to the legal position.” Labour memliers: “Hear, hear.” A AY AY’ OUT AY ANTED.

“That seems to be the trouble,” continued Sir Apirana. To my humble way of thinking a formula could be devised, and it might he a matter for the diplomatists of Geneva, that will save the face of the Government here and that of high born obstinate chiefs of Samoa.” He had, he continued, written to the Prime Minister saying that lie thought it was peculiar that the native chiefs of Samoa who were not paying a, small amount of tax might be imprisoned; in gaol outside their own country, yet in New Zealand they heard of thousands and thousands of hospital fees not being paid, large sums of rates unpaid by native landowners, and none of them were imprisoned. He was giving the opinion of natives who read of these things in their far-back villages when they heard 1 of scions of a royal family being imprisoned in Mt. Eden gaol for non-payment of £2 in rates, while all round they could see walking around, enjoying the free air. their people who owed large, sums in rates. ADVICE TO BOTH SIDES.

“It is an excruciatingly funny position,” commented the Minister. “We say to the Samoan ‘get. on side,’ but we think the parent might do a, little to appear not technical, but as a matter of British justice get on side with the Samoans, cry quits, and start again. This, continued the Minister, was perfectly understood by the Prime Minister, but it was just the difficulty of a legal position, though he (the speaker! had no doubt that a .roundtable conference of Samoans with certain others might remove the whole difficulty and re-establish happy relations with the Samoans, “who, I think, on the whole believe that the people of New Zealand will do the fair thing by them. From the standpoint of the Maori in New Zealand) the position is a very funny one.” Sir Apirana finally suggested that, as no good could be done by the amendment, it might be withdrawn. “After that very fine speech from the Minister, I will withdraw my amendment and let it go on the voices,” remarked Mr E. J. Howard, ■and the House followed that course, the amendment being lost without the necessity for a division.