Robbie

Mana (Auckland), 14 July 1977, Page 6

Robbie

(English)

The invitation was given to me by the Government of Western Samoa, as Auckland resentative at Samoa’s fifteenth anniversary celebrations of Independence. 1 really enjoyed every moment of my stay in Samoa. The people were very warm and friendly and sometimes I felt as though I was back home. 1 was staying at the Tusitala Hotel in Apia. This must be the most attractive Hotel in the South Pacific. All the buildings are designed in the Style of the Samoan rounded house called “fale”. I was provided with a government car, a guard, and an interpreter. His name was Taifa Young and he was top of all the high schools in Apia; the driver was a former Newmarket school boy. I met a lot of Samoans from Auckland, they have been so friendly to me and also the Rev. Sio from the Pacific Islands Presbyterian Church in Auckland who invited me for lunch on Thursday afternoon. I had the honour of being singled out for special photographs with the Head of State, his Deputy and the King of Tonga. There is no doubt that all the Pacific Islanders have serious economic problems, they have no industries to provide employmetnt for their growing population, the price of their exports has fallen, wages and average income are below the world level. I believe, New Zealand is the land of opportunitiies, and 1 feel we have the opportunity to show our Polynesian brothers how to use, and how to get these opp rtunities. I’d like to see more professional people like doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc, from every ethnic group. I feel we in New Zealand will have to consider our outlook, we are not a country apart, we ar a part of the Pacific and a Pacific Island grouping, and we must use our comparatively large population and size to help , our less fortunate neighbours to attain higher social and economic standards. The most most impressive thing I first saw of Samoa was the cleaness of all the villages, and the greeness of the grass with cocnut trees in their thousands. Although it was their winter it was hot with a temperature of 90 degree Fahrenheit. There were a variety of fruits of different tastes and colour, but the best of all was paw paw, the best breakfast I have had in years.