NEW SAMOA POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1929, Page 2

NEW SAMOA POLICY

APIA NOT SURPRISED. APIA, May G. When his Excellency the Administrator, Mr S. S. Allen, returned to Samoa after his interview with tho Prime Minister in New Zealand, Apia was prepared to receive a policy statement of some sort, but did not anticipate any startling new moves. Consequently, the statement when delivered firso to the representative heads of the town of his Excellency in the Administration office, did not occasion them much surprise, and it elicited very little comment. The item that concerned the merchants most was the substitution of an additional tax on copra for the native personal tax. This idea has been in the air for some time and no doubt the merchants- were relieved to find that the tax was increased by 10s a ton on copra instead of £l, as was expected. This consideration as probably on account of the low price obtained for copra at the present time. The tax will, of course, he passed on the Samoans, and a big reduction in the price offered to the natives for their produce would nmUe it scarcely worth their while to cut copra. It is half expected, as it is, that the tax will be responded to by the Man with a boycott on copra cutting. Last year, the Mail imposed boycotts on and off during the whole year, hut in spite of this the tonnage exported constituted almost a record for recent times, so it is not anticipated that a boycott, if ordered by the Mail, will have much effect. MAU HAS NOTHING TO HOPE. i As regards the Mau, it is unlikely that the statement of policy will alter the position at present. The attitude of the Administration has been very much that of the newly defined policy ever since Air Al.en assumed control, and tho only effect of the published statement will be to affirm an already established policy. Alan have known for some time that the Administration will not negotiate with them, but activities in New Zealand have falsely buoyed up their hopes that they might receive recognition. The statement should definitely show them that there is now'nothing to hope for from that quarter, and > that their .attitude of passive resistance is futile. At present the A fail is at a standstill. As a body it undoubtedly exerts much influence over practically the whole of;Samoa. Possibly one-third of [the natives have paid-.their taxes,.but this is not an indication that they favour the Government; they paid them because they were among the unfortunate! oneis,whom the long arm of the law was able to reach. The faipules and native officials might once have been called pro-Government, but since their dismissal it would be hard to say what their attitude is. Samoan loyalty is largely bought loyalty. Consequently it may he assumed that.the majority of Samoans still belong to tlie Afau and are passively opposed to the Administration.

MAY ULTIMATELY DISPERSE. Yet this is not a matter that need be taken very seriously. The Man policy may be said to. he quite inoperative as regards interference with matters commercial or administrative. Last year proved itself to he an excellent year for both import's and exports, and so far this year promises even better, so. the,. Mau' canfiot be.accused of hindering trade. As regards the Administration, the Mau appear to be thoroughly ignored, and as long as they create no disturbances nor commit anything but political crimes, the Administration does not seem to recognise such a body, or even know of its existance. The Mau committee has its little kingdom at the village of Vaimono, hut none pays homage there except Mau subjects, and it has neither recognition nor standing elsewhere. For all the good or harm it i-s doing, the Man committee might as well disperse* and its"members retire to their villages. And it is quite possible that this is what will happen in the long run. Rather than take a definite step and give in to the Administration, the Man may break up and let tilings gradually drift back to normal.

When this happens it will be a good day for Samoa. In the course of its political troubles much of the good work of the past has been undone. The recent experiences have shown that some of the good work has been overdone, and yet much necessary work, such as beetle collecting, and sanitary and medical work, has boon neglected. It will he to the advantage of the Mau and Samoa when it is realised that the Administration is in earnest. Samoa is building trouble for itself when it hinders necessary work which can be carried out only witli co-operation.