Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, FEB. 24, 1930. COMMODORE BLAKE AND SAMOA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 75, 24 February 1930, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, FEB. 24, 1930. COMMODORE BLAKE AND SAMOA.

In certain quarters there were bound to be outcries raised against Commodore .Blake’s statement on the Samoan trouble. (Jur pacifist friends were morally certain to challenge, as they have already challenged the Government’s action, the Commodore’s opinion on the matter. The Labour leader, Mr H. E. Holland, at the opening of the Labour group caucus in the Labour Whip’s room at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, characterised Commodore Blake’s action as an “extraordinary breach of discipline,” and, professing to voice the opinion of the Labour members (eighteen of whom were present) said that the “reference to certain of .the Government’s opponents as ‘disloyal whites and half-caste agitators’ constituted an abuse of the Commodore’s office and leaves him guilty of an impertinence, which, along with the other indiscretions referred to, will no doubt have brought him ere this a welldeserved reprimand.” The other “indiscretions,” alleged by Mr Holland, consisted of “putting into print damaging statements in relation to the Government’s policy in Samoa,” and “the apparent untruth of the declaration that there is no alternative but to treat the Samoan people roughly in a militaristic sense.” Here, of course, Mr Holland was expressing his own peculiar ideas, which have caused him, all the way through, to take just the opposite view from the finding of the Royal Commission, that the Mau and the Administration could not exist side by side; to the actions of Sir George Richardson as Administrator; to the decidedly expressed opinion of the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations that Sir George was right m the methods he adopted in administering the territory, and its scathing 1 denunciation of the activities of those whom Commodore Blake has rightly described as “disloyal whites and half-caste agitators,” and to the further expressed opinion of members of the Mandates Commission that Sir George had not been severe enough in his treatment of the Mau, and that if it were considered necessary force should be used in maintaining the authority of the Administration. In just the same way as he has chosen to show his sympathy with those who were endeavouring to subvert the authority of the Administration under Sir George Richardson, and in con-

derailing- the Reform Government for its policy in supporting* the Administrator, so Mr Holland has since condemned the United Government for following out the policy of its predecessors, and has blamed the Administration, rather than the illegal Mau, for the unfortunate happenings on December 28, and the repressive measures that have since had to be taken for the suppression of the Mau and the restoration of the Administrator’s authority. The “impertinence” of which Commodore Blake is presumed to have been guilty in Mr Holland’s idea is in his having the temerity to speak of those who have been surreptitiously encouraging the members of the Mau to persist in their unlawful association and illegal actions, as “disloyal whites and half-caste agitators.” But for the encouragement thus given, them the Mau would have been broken up long ago and peace would have reigned between the natives and the Administrator. But it is the latter’s business to administer Western Samoa on behalf of the New Zealand Government, under the mandate given it by virtue of the Versailles Treaty. And the authority thus delegated must be upheld. Kindly treatment and pacific measures in dealing with the recalcitrant natives have alike failed and sterner measures therefore had to be adopted.

COMMODORE BLAKE’S “OFFENCE.” Commodore Blake’s offence, if offence it can be termed, consists merely of an endorsement of the Government’s action. He has newly returned from Western Samoa where, while in command of the Dunedin, he has been assisting the authorities to restore order. He is thus well acquainted with the peculiar difficulties of the position, and his opinion is that “the present policy’’ (a policy that has the full approval of the New Zealand Government under Sir Joseph Ward) “is the only possible one at the present moment. When,” he says, “the Administrator’s demands have been fulfilled there will be no need for harsh treatment or retaliation, but until that time force is the only thing that will appeal to the Mau. The matter has got to be settled now. There is no alternative.”

Nor is there. The Mau has been dispersed it is true. Its members, in some instances, have returned to their homes, but the militants and the “wanted” men (who by the way are not wanted for civil, but for criminal offences) have taken refuge in the bush and refuse to submit themselves to the authorities. Their defiance is not at an end. It cannot be allowed to continue, and the men of H.M.S. Dunedin, with such members of the Samoan police force as can be allotted for the duty, are searching for them and endeavouring to force them into the settled districts by cutting off their supplies. Mr Holland describes this as a policy of “deliberate brutality which is to be persisted in until they are reduced to submission.” Commodore Blake, apart from giving expression to his A T ery decided opinion that “force is the only thing which will appeal to the Mau,” merely states the facts of the position as it now exists in Western Samoa. He stresses the obvious when he says that, within certain limits, the Samoan is very childlike and can be easily led, but that at present “he is in the position of a sulky and insubordinate child, who has deliberately disobeyed his father and no peaceful persuasion will induce him to submit.” But the “sulky child” must be made to submit and, failing his becoming amenable to peaceful persuasion, more forcible means must be adopted if further trouble is to be averted later on. Every sensible father knows and acts upon that. And what is true of and necessary in the case of the sulky child is equally true of and necessary in that of the sulky Samoan. It may take many months of wearisome effort to stamp out disaffection amongst the native Samoans, but if Mr Holland and his friends w'ould only recognise the logic of facts, and let it be clearly understood by the Samoans and those who are encouraging them in their insubordination that the Administrator is in Samoa to administer the affairs of the territory on behalf of-the New Zealand Government and that they must submit to this authority, the trouble would be over in no time. The Mau has been buoyed up by the idea that there is a big body of sentiment in New Zealand favourable to its demand for Samoan independence, and the opposition shown to the Government in its support of the Administrator by the Labour leader and his friends lias helped them to the belief that, if they hold out long enough, the New Zealand Labour Party will see that their ambitions in that direction are satisfied. But, if New Zealand surrendered the mandate, and she -would have to do so before Samoa could obtain -what has been called “self-determina-tion,” it would simply be handed over by the Mandates Commission to some other Power —Germany, France, America, or possibly even Japan, and the last state of Western Samoa would certainly be no better than it is at present.

An alpine club has been formed in New Plymouth. About 8 p.m. yesterday a motor-car collided with one of the trees in Cuba Street. The front of the car was somewhat damaged, but the driver was uninjured. For the first time in many years the monthly meeting of the Palmerston North River Board was postponed today for want of a quorum, only the Mayor, Mr A. J. Graham, the clerk and the engineer being present. A dead elephant was cast up on Oreti Beach, Southland, a few days ago. The animal probably formed part of a travelling circus, and taking ill at sea, was snot and put overboard. The tide has since reclaimed the carcase.

Serious injuries were sustained by Mr Alfred Kennedy, a farmer, when a horse ho was driving became restive at a railway crossing at Otorohanga and dragged his buggy into a moving train. The animal was probably frightened by the whistle of the engine.

Owing to an injury to his right knee, A. C. C. Robiliard, the well-known Canterbury and All Black wing threequarter , has been forced into permanent retirement from Rugby football. The injury was received at Capetown during the last Test against South Africa in 1928. Fatal injuries were received by Mr David Sinslie, an elderly man, who was knocked down by a motor-car in Gittos Street, Parnell, Auckland, shortly after one o’clock on Saturday afternoon. He was picked up unconscious and died in hospital at 10 p.m. on Saturday. Deceased leaves a widow and one child.

The deepest well in the world has cost over a-quarter of a million dollars to drill and at last advice was down 8255 feet, or 1.56 miles. The well is located in the United States, and has been drilled with the usual wire rope tool rig. The work of drilling was still being continued in hopes of striking oil, which is known to exist in the locality, but at great depths. Little hope of all aero clubs in the Dominion receiving Government approval was expressed by the Director of Air Services, Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton, at the aero clubs’ conference at Blenheim. He stated that onl-- four clubs in the Dominion at present had been approved—Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Christchurch—and Wellington would shortly be added. A curious accident occurred at Taihape a few days ago, when a test was being made by filling a new tank with water in an oil company’s yard on Mataroa Itoad. The stand supporting this 12,000-gallon container collapsed, and the tank rolled over, levelling about 12 yards of iron fence. Luckily no one was travelling the stretch of footpath at the time. It is Estimated that the tank contained sbme 40 tons of water.

' There have been no further developments at the artesian bore at Heretaunga Street during the past few days. The obstruction at the lower end of the pipe, has proved more serious than was at first supposed, and efforts are still being made to remove it. On Saturday the pipe was temporarily cleared twice, and a strong flow of water was encountered, but the stones again became wedged, and the work had to be started afresh. A blue heron was seen at Redcliffs, near Sumner, tho other afternoon. The heron was floating on a piece of seaweed which the rising tide carried up the estuary. It went past the Christchurch Sailing Club’s jetty, and, when a gun was fired to start one of the yaclrt«races, it flew off the seaweed and landed on a nearby sandbank. After standing on one leg preening itself for a while, it walked about, apparently picking up small shellfish. Wanganui’s delegates to the Aero Club Conference at Blenheim brought up the question of landing and parking fees for light aeroplanes. It was stated that AVellington was the only place where aero club visitors had to pay these charges. The congress carriecl the following motion: “That this conference considers that the landing fees imposed on light aeroplanes are excessive, and that club ’pianes should be allowed to land and park free of charge.”

A unique sequence of judgement debtors came up for examination recently at the weekly sitting of the Napier Magistrate’s Court. One was stone deaf, and questions addressed to him had to be written, a second stuttered so badly that the court could hardly understand the replies he gave to his examination, A third burst into tears the moment counsel commenced to question him, and continued in a state of sorrowful weeping all through the hearing. Cabinet on Saturday approved a grant for the bituminisation of the drive round the bath houses and sanatorium at Rotorua. Announcing this decision, the Minister in charge of the Tourist Department, Hon. P. A. de la Perelle, stated that hundreds of motor-cars used the drive daily and a considerable volume of dust was created. The decision to bituminise the surface would, he felt sure, meet with general approval. Tennis players and visitors generally would appreciate the absence of dust clouds. The Awapuni children’s health camp was again thrown open for inspection yesterday afternoon, and numerous visitors availed themselves of the opportunity of seeing the work being carried out by Dr. Elizabeth Gunn among the children. The natural beauties of the racecourse made an ideal setting for the camp, and the glorious weather showed it at its best. Numerous comments on the improved condition of the children’s health were heard, and the doctor and her staff were congratulated on the change effected in such a short space of time.

Two remarkable attendance records at country schools were brought to the notice of members of the Nelson Education Board the other day. Robert Mead, a pupil attended for nine years and was never absent at any time that the school was open. More than that, the secretary remarked that the boy had a record of not even being late for school at any time. The record is more remarkable as the boy lived over two miles from the school. Another case of splendid attendance came from Dovedale, where Rona Win has completed seven years without having a half day’s absence against her name. The praiseworthy records of these two pupils were spoken of by members of the board in congratulatory terms, and it was decided to send a letter of appreciation and a book to each. Mr G. Dalglish, the senior inspector, remarked that he had quoted these two cases as examples in all the schools in the district.

“Nazol’* quickly relieves and remedies coughs, colds, asthma, hay fever, bronchitis and all such ailments of the lungs and throat. Keep a bottle always handy. ' £G

Form the North Cape to the Bluff housewives continue to extol the merits of No Rubbing Laundry Help for washing clothes clean without rubbing or injury. Eight washings Is. —Advt.

If you realise that you are not adequately insured against fire loss the Mercantile and General Insurance Co., Ltd., is a New Zealand Company with all its capital invested in New Zealand and thus can assure you prompt settlement. R. W. Priest. Times Buildings, Broadway, district agent.—Advt.