SAMOAN POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1929, Page 8

SAMOAN POLITICS.

CONJECTURE IN APIA. What with the activities of the Samoan Defence League in New Zealand and the numerous comments on (lie report of investigation Committee, ,airman politics would almost seem to .0 nnre in ilio limelight in New Zealand than they are in Sant a. The p silion in Apia is very much at a standstill at present. The Man, still firmly enstonsnl ;it. tile villinge of Yiiiiuoso, is making no move, and for all the harm or good it is doing might just as well in non-existent. The European population, sightly bewildered by the trend of affairs in New Zealand, is unable to make head or tail of the position, and in the whole ; s weary to death of the whole sorry business. A definite settle nient one way or the other would lie /cry welcome. In Hie meantime, if would appear, in spite of the announcement li.v the Government in New Zealand that no conciliatory measures eon Id be taken till the Man comes to bed, that certain steps recently taken ire a move in the direction of concilia Lion, though aL the same time they were necessary in the reorganisation of flic Administration.

The first, of these steps is, of course the indictment of the com mission. If would be idle to suggest that his Excellency the Administrator instigated the investigation from any idea of up peasing the Man. Obviously from the report matters were in such a

state that they required the r.llesi investigation, and it was not :util lie bad been in Samoa long Miougli to fully probe into the various departments .that the Administrator /ound it necessary to demand an inluiry. Nevertheless, the result of that inquiry has to a great extent 'testified the protests of the original

"itmens’ Committee, and the proposed reforms and economies will go a longway towards removing causes of complaint from Europeans who formerly were 111 varying degrees antagonistic to the Administrator.

As regards the Alan, which now i; almost purely a native organisation the move which has appealed to them most is the reorganisation of the Native Department, by which the Faipu!e- have been replaced by district offi-

- s from the ranks of the military police. The Faipules from the beginn ing have been a bone of contention, and their alleged abuse of power a hitter pill for the freedom loving Samoan to swallow. Here, again it was probabl\ not with any idea of appealing to the .Mr, 11 that Colonel Allen abolished the Kaipule system. The Kaipulcs have Peon inoperative lor some considerable time—a ml the Man have seen to that—and. while being it drain on the Treasury, have not added' one iota to the effectiveness of the administration It is said that at the tones of Kaipule held :it Mulinuu, where the Administrator meets the supposed representatives of the people, none ol the I'aipules have been able to offer suggestions towards reconstruction, or even to do anything except talk. Samoans undoubtedly have great gilts of otatory especially at a I'ono, but to bis Excellency, who talks little but evi dently thinks deeply, the gift of oratory has not much appeal.

Whether the new system oil European district officers, advised by the Faipules will be a success or not is problematical. The military police in the guise of district, officers will certainly have more authority than the Kaipulcs have enjoyed in flu; last year or two, but if v, ill take s-uue time for them to assume all the duties that forinmdy wore supnosed to he carried out by the FaipuloM present- in most districts the native are .amenable to authority until taxe«

are monioned, and then ntilltoruv ceases. The Samoans are not opposed to tlie Administration insisting on law

niifi order, and in tact in many • >,- iinstances have assisted to bring v\ longdoers to punishment, hut as regards, political crimes and the payments ol taxes they are still distinctly antagonistic.

The visit-of his Excellency the Ad miuistrator to New Zealand has oeen sioned much conjecture in Apia, and everyone wonders if there is to he a mooting in New Zealand between the representatives of the two parties. Sir Joseph Ward s recent statements in regard to Samoa would seem to negative this supposition, yet it is likely that shortly something more definite will he done than lias been done in the last year. Meanwhile Samoa waits, but does not appear to be vastly concerned over the luture. Apart Ironi politics, Sfimoa is moderately happy, trade is good, and prospects lor the year seem very bright. .Perhaps New Zealand is more concerned over Samoa than Samoa is concerned ior itseM.