MISSION TO SAMOA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1936, Page 5

MISSION TO SAMOA.

NATIVES SUBMIT FIVE POINTS. REFORMS AND COMPENSATION. (From thc special representative of the United Press Association with the Official N.Z. Mission). APIA, June 30. Five points were submitted to the goodwill delegates from New Zealand, Hon. F. Langstone and Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., when they met representatives of! the Man at Vaimoso yesterday. The requests, which were put in writing and handed to the delegation by Fannmina, president of the Man, were as follows: (1) What, is our present status in our own country? (2) We ask for the removal of all harsh, laws employed in Samoa and not in Xew Zealand. (3) We ask for reparation of our valuable goods destroyed by the Xew Zealand Forces ami consideration for families cf those who 4 died. Also those who werej wounded and suffered at the hands of the Xew Zealand Forces and policy, including those who were sent to gaol. (4) We ask for reparation of the money expended by us in this controversy in the cost of litigation in respect of the harsh laws imposed on us. (d). We ask that all positions in the Government be open to Samoans' according to their knowledge j and ability. I

Tlie Minister, who replied to the points in the order in which they were submitted, snid that the Samoans were under the protection of the British flag and therefore were on an equal status with the peoplji of New Zealand.

A Samoan chief interposed that under jperman rule Samoa was a protectorate, and not a mandated territory. The Minister said that New Zealand had an obligation to the League of j Nations to administer ‘Western Samoa. /The trust was a sacred one. If the League decided that the country should be handed back to German, then the Dominion would have no option but to hand it over. Personally, he hoped that would not happen. New Zealand had a responsibility to educate and train the Samoans to the point where they could practically administer their own affairs, and to overcome some of the difficulties he was prepared to recommend the Prime Minister to inf crease the Samoan representation in the Samoan Legislative Gouneil from two to four and to arrange to refer to New Zealand any representations from a large minority which opposed an.y particular ordinance. The proposal, if adopted, would give greater weight to Samoan opinion. The Government was anxious to promote the best possible relations between the people and the Administration and no effort would be spared to achieve that ideal. Banana? and Copra.

The Minister said that in order to provide the Samoan with a greater income an endeavour would he made to increase the price paid to the grower of bananas from 4s 6cl to 5s a case during the balance of the present contract, 11 which would expire in December next. Eepresentations had been made by the merchants that the export tax of £1 lOs a ton on copra was hampering them in their trading as compared with Piji, which only 1 1 ad to find 2s Gd a ton. The merchants had given an assurance that any reduction in the export tax would bo passed oh to growers. The position was that about 14,000 tons of copra were exported from Western Samoa every year, and the tax of £1 10s brought in £21,000 in revenue. If a reduction were made consideration would have to be given to the question of making up that loss. About £IOO,000 was required yearly to run Western Samoa. He trusted that the problem would be gone into fully by the Samoan people themselves. Coming to question number two, the said that the delegation was in complete sympathy with the request. |No harsh Jaws would be permitted, and if there were any still in existence they would be removed at the earliest possible moment. A meeting of the Legislative Council would be called to revoke the regulations affecting the Man. So far as the next question was concerned, it was impossible for the Government to consider granting compensation for goods destroyed and lives lost during the trouble a few years ago. The Labour Party could not hold itself responsible for what had occurred in the past, but so long as it remained the Government it would accept. full responsibility for any acts in the future. All the money in the world could not bring back the late Tamasese or compensate the people of Samoa for their suffering. “What we want to do,” continued the .Minister, “is to start out on a new day. Let us go forward united in friendship, and let us forget the past even although it may hurt our hearts.” Dealing with the request for a refund of money spent in litigation, Mr. Langstone said that people in Hew Zealand had spent tens of thousands of pounds fighting for justice. With the election of Labour many of their wrongs had been righted, but the money they had spent in bringing about the political change had gone for ever. That, after all, must necessarily be so. He hoped the Samoans would look at things in the same light. In replying to question number five, Mr. Langstone said it was the policy of the present Government to make openings for Samoans with ability, and where possible that policy would be given effect to. New Zealand hoped

that some day Samoa would be able to govern itself and to show the world a lead in certain directions. Every European official in the Territory was required to deal with the natives as sympathetically as possible and to acquaint himself with their problems. A departmental officer was alleged to have stated that there was to be no change in the administration, in the personnel or in the form of government. Every official, high or low, would be expected to cany out the policy of the Government, and if he failed he would he replaced.

“All we are concerned about is your welfare,” added the Minister. “W e

are anxious that our name will shine high as the sun and that it will not be tarnished by the dark cloud of worry and turmoil.” Air. O’Brien said he hoped that as a result of the meeting that day any doubt or suspicion in the minus of the Samoans as to the delegates’ honesty of purpose would be dispelled. Air. Langstone and himself had set their hearts on bringing about goodwill among all the people, and he trusted they would not go away disappointed. Samoa should be thankful that it was under the British flag, because without that protection it might find itself in the hands of some uncivilised country. The Abyssinians were a brave people, and although they had fought valiantly science and modern methods of warfare had robbed them of their country. “We won’t allow anything like that to take place in Samoa,” said Air. O’Brien. “The British Empire is standing behind you. We want you to lead your own lives and to be as happy as possible in what we believe is the most wonderful country in the world. We want to see you united among yourselves, and you tan rest assured we will do everything possible to meet your wishes.” 1 The meeting ended with expressions of. goodwill from the Mau chiefs.