NEW ZEALAND AND SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9694, 14 December 1894, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND SAMOA.

A MELBOURNE PRESS OPINION. Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Melbourne, December 13. The Age says it is significant of the contempt for colonial opinion on matters of colonial concern entertained by a section of society in the Mother Country that the Westminster Gazette suggested the cession of Samoa to Germany in exchange for certain territory in Africa. If Lord Rosebery fully understood the Samoan position he would have seen the New Zealand proposal was an eminently practical one. New Zealand understands how to manage the natives, who are moreover anxious for a New Zealand ; connection, and it is pretty certain New Zealand administration would speedily put an end to native wars, and start the islanders in a career of productive industry. The New Zealand proposal offered a loophole to the three parties to the Berlin Treaty to escape from an embarrassing situation without loss of dignity or prestige. The whole incident is suggestive that little or no interest is taken in colonial affairs by Imperial Ministers, who evidently consider such small matters as this Samoan affair may be abandoned to subalterns, and settled by agreement with Foreign embassies.