CONTROL OF SAMOA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1515, 22 April 1919, Page 7

CONTROL OF SAMOA.

PETITION FROM THE NATIVES

SUBSEQUENT WITHDRAWAL

(Pi* Frsss Association.) AUCKLAND, April 21. In tho Samoa Times of April sth Colonel Tate, Acting-Administrator, publishes an official statement. He states that on January 27 he attended a native gathering at Mulinun, at which a petition was presented, asking: (1) That Colonel Logan be removed as Administrator for reasons connected with the introduction of influenza into Samoa; (2) that a census betaken of the orphans and provision made for them; (3) a request that Samoa should be turned over to the United States, but if this were not granted, and if the PoAvers decided on British administration, that Samoa should he administered by the Colpnial Office, and on no account by the Government of New Zealand. There were present about 126 chiefs from various parts of Western Samoa. The petition was presented by Toleafoa, and while presenting it he desired to amend one paragraph so as to delete tho request for American rule. The petition was amendod accordingly. "On February 11," Colonel Tate continues, "my two native advisers, representing the native people, and Tnleotoa representing .the petitioners, appeared boforo me, and requested that the whole petition should be withdrawn, and that the iucident should be closed. I agreed to accept tho withdrawal of tho petition, and to regard the incident as closed so, far as the Samoans were concerned, but intimated that so far as tho white people wore concerned the incident would not necessarily bo closed, as the Government of New Zealand would not readily forgive any person who had oommitted wrong concerning the introduction of influenza into Samoa. The present position is that there is now no petition, tho petition formerly existing having been completely withdrawn. I may say that consideration had been given to tho question of orphans before the petition "as presented, and that as to the introduction of the influenza epidemic I have no doubt the Government of New Zealand will see that any responsibilities are'placed upon the proper shoulders."