SLANDER on SAMOANS?

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6666, 20 July 1928, Page 7

SLANDER on SAMOANS?

Radiogram to N.Z. Newspaper Deliberate Lie, Says Mr Holland ADMINISTRATOR HOODWINKED i When the House of Representatives resumed again yesterday, at 2.30 p.m., the Speaker announced that at 11 a.m. yesterday morning the Address-in-Beply to the Speech from the Throne had been presented to His Excellency, the Governor-General, who had been pleased to inake suitable rejoinder, which was ordered to be entered in the journals of the House. The Minister of External Affairs, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, then moved for leave to lay on the table the annual report of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa, and a further debate on Samoan matters was initiated, ■v lasting for most of the afternoon. The leave was eventually accorded after a Labour, amendment had been defeated. * In the evening the Orchard and Garden Diseases Bill was read a second time. The Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A, Young, thereafter moved the second reading of the Mental Defectives Amendment Bin, and for the rest V of the evening was occupied in explaining the important measure clause by clause.; in response to requests from the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister agreed to adjourn the debate until to-day, and tho House lose at 11.20 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-day. ’ *

’ ANNUAL SAMOAN REPORT LEADS TO FRESH DEBATE. The House of Representatives met at -2.30 pan. to-day. ' i - The Speaker announced that he, ao companied by members, had presented to His Excellency the Governor-General, the Address agreed to by tho House in reply to His Excellency’s Speech on th« occasion of the opening of Parliament and His Excellency had been pleased to make suitable reply which was ordered to bo entered in the journals of the House. Preferential Voting Bill. The Preferential Voting Bill was introduced on the motion of Mr, J. M‘Combs (Lyttelton),'who said the Bill was much the same as other Bills previously introduced on this subject, except that many of tho machinery clauses were, relegated to a schedule. The preferential voting system adopted was the same as that contained in the late Mr. Massey's Bill of 192*8. If the licensing referendum was reduced to two issues 'tho Bill would not apply, but if three or four issues are submitted tc the people then its provisions will be operative if it is passed. The Bill was read a first time, the second reading being fixed for August Bth. . Samoa Annual Report. The ,Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of External Affairs, moved for leave to lay on the table of the House the annual report of tho Mandated Territory in Western Samoa. , t , The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H, E, Holland, complained, of want of courtesy on the part of the Government for not letting him know the report was coming down, as lacking, notice he had no opportunity to prepare for a discussion - in which he was anxious to take part. - • , ■ ' Ho then proceeded to refer to a coded , wireless message on March 13 last to ' a Reform paper in New Zealand. That cable he described as a falsehood from end to end, and the news deliberately concocted for propaganda purposes. The cable, had reference to an attempt to arrest Tamaseso, the recognised head of the Man, and during its course referred to white women being in danger. . That ho characterised, as a lie as tho Samoans were a gentlemanly,race, and a , chaste people. If anything was calculated to inflame the Samoan people such falsehoods wore. It was Ms firm opinion that General Sir George Richardson was behind that cable, and .he desired to know what steps tho Government had taken to ascertain the facts about that cable, and who sent the message. Its statements were not endorsed by Col. Logan, the former Administrator, and' belatedly denied by the Prime Minister. Such a cable could not come through without General Sir George Richardson's know- ' ledge. ■ • ■ That being so, what steps were taken to ascertain Sir George Richardson’s part in tho affair, and what reprimand, If any, was administeredto himf - “Slander on Samoan Race.” He wanted from tho Prime Minister a definite and complete statement as to what action had been taken by them in connection with this message, which was a slander on the Samoan race. They were a race akin to the Maori, and if a message were sent out that white women were in danger of molestation from the Maori, how deeply would they be offended. Tho statements in. the cable were such that they could not be defended in New Zealand or any other part of the world. “Putting up Bogies.” The Prime Minister said that Mr. Holland had been putting up bogies and had knocked them down himself. ■ Ho hoped to have evidence to' present to the House which would refute Mr. Holland’s other statements. But for the present ho would say definitely that General Sir George Richardson did not send the cable referred to, nor did he see it before it was sent. The message was sent by a representative in Samoa of the New Zealand paper. Personally, he thought the cable should not have been sent, and th* Administrator was immedioi-ai- instructed to see that, all cables sent from Samoa must be correct in fact. Proceeding, the Prime Minister wont on to show that there was a serious disturbance in Samoa and there wore incidents which indicated hostility toward white women. The public'mind undoubtedly became agitated, but more than likely the position was overstated in tho cable. He quoted from a Samoan paper to i show that Mr. Holland’s speeches were j circuls-fesd in the Islands, hindering I

what otherwise had been a good administration.- Self-government for Samoa was the shortest cut to civil war. General Richardson did not send the cable which he believed was .an exaggeration'' and the Government had taken steps to prevent a recurrence of such proceedings. 5 \ Trouble Not Ended? Mr. E. J,.Howard (Christcnurch East) did not agree that Now Zealand’s administration had been satisfactory since they had ample evidence that the trouble was not ended. .Mr. J..A. Lee (Auckland East)/said the House had heard no condemnation from Government supporters of the cable sent from Samoa, which was not only malicious propaganda, but was utterly untrue. He moved as an amendment to the motion— That this House deeply regrets that the Administration should have permitted the transmission of the radiogram to the New Zealand Herald on March .13, 1928. Supporting, the amendment, Mr. Holland complained that the Government had given no .explanation as to why General Sir George Richardson allowed the offensive radiogram to go out from Samoa when General Richardson safd ho had nothing to do with the cable. He (Mr. Holland) was not prepared to accept that statement.' _

General Richardson } did not have qualifications for ah Administrator, and itwas unfair to both himself and to the Samoans that ho should have been put in that position. If he had/done aa Colonel Allen appeared to be doing, - meeting the Samoans in a friendly spirit, all would have been well. He demanded that all'papers and other information should bo placed at the disposal of the House. ' ,f , Mr. J. Linklater (Manawatu) said that after a visit to Samoa, ho was convinced that the question of the radiogram was only being raised as a smoke screen. ■ ■ ' Amendment ; A division was then taken on the amendment, which was defeated by 45 votes to 10, The Hon. W. Nosworthy said that ample notice of Samoan affairs coming before the House had been given by the Prime Minister, and the Leader/of the. Opposition had no grounds of complaint. The radio complained of was sent by a member of thp Administrator’s staff, who, when in New Zealand,:had been v approached by the New Zealand paper . to act as their correspondent. The message did hot represent the views of the Administrator, and the officer concerned: had been reprimanded for .what he did. The fact that he was an officer of aGovernment. Department enabled him to get the message through unknown to the Administrator. The like would not occur again. ~ The, paper was laid 6n the table. Health Report Tabled. The Minister then moved to lay on the .table the health report of ’Western Samoa. ' ■ ■ In reply to a request for information by the Leader of the Opposition. Tho Minister said .there were now 935 Chinese in Samoa against 946 last year. There were 349 Melanesian in-patients in the hospital, and there were 192 Chinese and Melanesian out-patients.. The paper was laid bn the table. The Prime Minister said that probably to-morrow he would lay on the table Mr. E. B. Kellogg’s “Note” and New Zealand’s reply .thereto regarding outlawry of war. Complete papers prob-, ably would be presented later. The House adjourhed at 5.30 p.m. till 7.30 pun. Orchard Diseases Bill Read. The House resumed at 7.30. Tho Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, moved the second reading of the Orchard and Garden Diseases Bill. He explained that the Bill was purely a consolidation of , o tho existing law which was in no way interfered with. The Minister in reply to requests for information said that no new inspectors had been appointed of late years, but skilled advice was necessary to most orebardists. Advice . as regards trees and their, pests was absolutely necessary ann whad had been done is this respect had helped the industry greatly. ' Disease-infected fruit was rarely found on tho market now. Now Zealand fruit was as clean as tho fruit in any part of the world, due largely to the operation of this Act. Some 260 acres were put down in orchards last year making a total of 30,000 acres now in fruit trees employing some 6000 people. With regard to the power taken t« frame regulations from time to time . it was necessary because of tho chang-