SAMOAN SITUATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 285, 30 October 1928, Page 8

SAMOAN SITUATION

IMPROVEMENT SHOWN. GENEVA COMMISSION. (United' Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association—United Service.) Received October 30, 12.25 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 29. The League’s permanent Mandates Commission to-day began an examination of the New Zealand Government’s annual report of the Administration of Samoa to March, 1928. New Zealand’s representatives, Sir James Parr, High Commissioner, and Sir George Richardson, former Administrator of Western Samoa, were present. The commission asked for particulars of the present situation and explanations regarding certain information, according to which, a portion of the population is still discontented. Sir George Richardson explained that the so-called Citizens’ Committee still existed secretly and in touch with the agitator. Mr 0. F. Nelson, who was now in banishment: also, that it still contributed to the disaffection of the native population by spreading false news. Sir George Richardson added that the natives had been informed of the Mandates Commission’s work, but they were again influenced by intrigues and agitators. Sir James Parr stated that the New Zealand Government had reported that the situation had improved during the past' six months, but that, immediate results could not be expected. . Order was being maintained and courts were now obeyed. Account must be taken of the fact that the Administration were compelled to deal with passive resistance, in the shape of refusal to pay taxes.

The chairman of the commission, the Marquis Theodoli (Italy) remarked that they knew in Italy how to deal with those who refused to pay taxes. Sir James Parr replied that they had no Fascist army in Samoa. The mandatory power was going to the limit of its patience before resorting to stronger measures. The commission will further examine the report to-morrow.