SAMOA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 April 1928, Page 5

SAMOA

CRITICISM OF NEW ZEALAND'S POLICY BY SYDNEY RESIDENT SENDING OF WARSHIPS A MISTAKE XTniteil Preis AssarirfWon—By El«ctri<». Telegraph —('opyrigh t (Reeeivpd 13th April. 12.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. This Day., Mr C. Buchanan, insurance assess/w. wlio has returned from a visit to Sarnkw, trenchantlv criticised New Zealai ul s Samoan pblirv. He said New Zcakmcl made a terrible mistake when she Merit warships to Samoa. The natives \vere following a peaceful pioketmg policy which would be tolerated in any country in the world except Italy. New yealanders from the warships landed itt- lull fighting equipment, and were met t.n the beach by 400 aged men and women, who neither offered nor intended to after resistance. Samoa is quiet now. but-! still full of discontent. Mr Buchanan spoke to Tamascso. who said the natives would refuse to cat any copra if traders became tax co doctors ruder the scheme proposed by Mi George Richardson. The islam I was eagerly waiting the arrival of tbo new Administrator.

. "NOT VERY HOPEFUL/" "I am not- verv hopeful yet of results from the Indian Commission -presided over bvSir John Simon.*' s.'iid h"' James ' Reid Robcits, a distinguished surgeon, who has had 35 vea.TS experience of India., ami was at, one time surgeon to the Viceroy of Tnjtha. .Sir James, who is at present in* Auckland, said the commission was placed in a very difficult position, becautsi? as things were at present there was no possibility of extending further powers of government to Indians. There vftif* no native authority to which responsibility could be handed, and until such -an authority had been created it. was impossible for Britain to depart very mnich from what she was now doing. Sir .lames described tflije MontaguClielrnsford reform scheme as an attempt to satisfy the demands of educated Indians for" a greater share rn the government of their cotrirtry. That was translated by English politicians to mean the introduction of a democratic form of government, 'bait a country which had been ruled Try an administration for the last 2000 years, and had had no experience of, any democratic form of government. Was not. likely to find that change easy. "After all, the Go\/r-rnment of India is one of the finest administrations in the world, and Indiana have always had the distant hope thxit some day they may Vie able to run. it for themselves, but they will not- h/s able to do so under a democratic form," continued Sir James. "India consists of 50 races and innumerable castes.. None of these intermarry, so that there is no homogenous sentiment, throughout the country. Conflicting interests are found everywhere. When Tbvitain took over after the break-up of the Mogul Empire, she took over the existing system of government. We have not. altered its principles, but mev.ely elaborated the detail. That thVis. government is suitable to India is proved by the fact that it. was created by Indians as far back as the time of t!nc Emperor Asoka in 200 B.C. The Jnklian Commission has naturally found a very difficult, position to deal with, und the Indian professional politician riVns been able to take. tip the cry Hi at there are no Indians on the commission and make a grievance of it."