“TWO SCHOOLBOYS AT LOGGERHEADS”

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7018, 18 September 1929, Page 3

“TWO SCHOOLBOYS AT LOGGERHEADS”

The Samoan Question

COULD EASILY BE SETTLED

IN lIALF-AN-HOUR

During his recent trip to America, Mr. H. Tolley, of Fcilding, in the course of the journey c-ame into contact with a number of people possessing a lengthy acquaintance with Samoan affairs through residence on the island and gathered from the views expressed in the course of conversation that there was no very serious difficulty in the way of arriving at a satisfactory settlement of the dispute. Mr. Tolley had an open mind on the subject and was naturally interested to learn, from those qualified to express an opinion, all he could of the cause; responsible for the attitude of the Samoans towards .the jNbw Zealand Go vernment’s administration. He met in Auckland the Hon. 0. F. Nelson and in Suva Mr. Smyth and also conversed ( with Mr. Uren, who was manager of the Bank of New Zealand for ten years at Apia. What'appealed to Mr. Tolley was the remark that the attitude of the New Zealand Government and that of the Samoan chiefs could likened to two schoolboys, both believing themselves right and each refusing to give way. The root of the trouble, Mr. Tolley was informed, was the introduction of a form of military control, which fell foul of Samoan customs and from this interference, which the conservative Samoan resented, other troubles grew, while military authority remained incapable of understanding the native and his traditional customs. Mr. Tolley, was assured by those qualified to offer an opinion on the complicated issues that very little effort was required to bring about a peaceful conclusion. “Nothing,” he said, “will shake the confidence in Mr. Nelson, who to the natives is the uncrowned king of Samoa. From tho strictly European and military point of view, he may have minor failings but on the other hand, he is liked and admired by a large native following an,d there is no doubt that he has the confidence of the natives and can better interpret their ideas than one trained in military ideas. Mr. Nelson assured me that the whole matter could be settled in half an hour at a round-the-table conference. It was just a matter of getting the Government to understand the native and obtaining an appreciation by the Government of the value set by natives on their customs and ceremonies. “If this is so,” continued Mr. Tolley,—“and others with whom I conversed’ supported this view without hesitation—then I feel that tho Goveminent should be asked to make a move in the direction of meeting Mr. Nelson. I feel that a great deal will be gained by such a meeting; certainly it wiU help to clear away all misunderstandings and avert possible trouble.” . In continuing, Mr. Tolley said that he found the conversations he had with those who had lived in Samoa and had studied the question that the attitude assumed by the Government through its Administrator was not conducive to peace. He was assured by Mr. Uren that the natives were, thoroughly disturbed at tho manner in which authority was operating and the usual peace had given way to an era of strife which had visibly affected them. Mr. Tolley was not acquainted with all the numerous issues which had been raised but was impressed by the unanimously expressed view that New Zealand was wrong in its attitude towards the natives.

“Everyone I approached on the subject assured me that our Government was riding for a fall in its determination to rule Samoa with a disregard for the native viewpoint. If our Government is employing a form of rule objectionable to the natives, then it-is altogether contrary to the justice claimed for British rule in other native territories. ’ ’

Mr. Tolley went on to state that the Government had invited Mr. Smyth to return to Samoa, with a view of clearing away the difficulties confronting the Administrator, but he would not TCturn unless the order for deportation imposed on Mr. Nelson was also removed. These orders were beyond the comprehension of the natives, insofar as the causes for their execution were concerned and to a race so easily swayed on the one hand and quick to take offence on the other, it was foolish to continue pursuing a course which would never bring about a peaceful understanding. Mr. Tolley thought that an early opportunity should be taken by the Government to meet Mr. Nelson in a friendly conference, when he anticipated, from the assurances he had received, that peace and industry would once more prevail in the mandated territory.