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Hokitika Guardian, 18 April 1929, Page 4

I'hic affairs of Samoa arc still in an unsettled <ondition. It is evident I'roin die statements by Sir Joseph Ward chat tlu* new government is anxious to we tlie situation adjusted with honour, the Government is, of course, anxious, as Sir Joseph Ward observed, to arrive ut. a settlement of the dilli•ii I til's in the territory, and it has intimated that it is desirous of adoptng a generous and conciliatory alti,ude. I,et the Man abandon its defiance of the law and the Government will lose no time in taking action on lines such as will be conducive to the ittaininent of a better understanding. Hut, says the Prime Minister, “it cannot deal amicably with open defiance of the law, nor would public opinion in New Zealand or elsewhere expect or even allow it 10 do so.” That is the only possible answer that can he given to the New Zealand Samoa Defence League, and Sir Joseph has been L-ot.ii frank and definite in the replies given to the League. The New Zealand Samoa Defence League would have iis believe that the defiance of law by the supporters of the Man is a ‘‘purely technical” matter, of which, it pretends, the end will antomatieallv lie reached the moment a conference is called. The faith of the New Zealand people is hardly of a quality which will embrace that. Mot. on the assumption that the attitude which the malcontents have ndonti'd possesses so Mttlo sirtnineanec as the Loanee would implv. that organisation would he better advised that it seems In he if it were to concent rale its efforts upon inducing the Man to remove the obstacle to a cnnl'i-renee. The Prime Minister has, as it happens, found it necessary to question the accuracy of many of tho League’s statements. “I

believe,” he says, “that many of the indictments in the Samoa Defence League’s circular ale not supported by tacts, and that in other cases the facts are gravely exaggerated.” It is unferlunate lor the League that it .should have expressed itself to rebuke with reference to matters upon which it would like to 'he regarded as wellinformed. The fact is one which imparts an unfavourable tinge to all the representations it makes to the Government. However, the Government will not do anything unfavourable to tlio rights of the natives because of their o.er zealous friends in the League. Sir Joseph has taken up a states-: manlike attitude in the matter, and it is interesting to note that that the deform press recognises the justice of the position so far as it affects the late administration. The latest move by Lite Prime Minister is to invite tiie Administrator to New Zealand to eon•r on the situation. It would not lie •unlikely that as a result a New Zealand Minister were deputed to return and discuss matters with the natives. Sir A. Ngata would be an admirable representative, one in whom every confidence could be placed, and he might he expected to do a great deal to heal the breach in an honourable way, and pave the way for a complete settlement. Such a result would redound greatly to the credit of the Government.'’