GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 10

GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA.

While apparently anxious to give Parliament a full statement of the Government's intentions regarding Samoa Sir James Allen was unable last night to make any very detailed proposals. Under the circumstances this is perhaps an advantage. The Government must, in the words of the Minister for Defence, " feel its way," and it will do better if it keeps a perfectly open mind on the novel problems presented by Samoa, and is guided by experience. Plans are already being laid or the change from military to civil government, a transition that should not be delayed once the Dominion receives formal authority from the League of Nations. It is proposed to appoint a civil administrator and a deputy, and on the selection of those representatives of New Zealand authority the successful exercise of the mandate will in the first instance depend. The reputation of the Dominion as a mandatory Power would be ruined by an unfortunate choice, and a heavy responsibility, therefore, rests upon the Government to weigh these appointments with the utmost care. A Legislative Council is to be established which will in the first instance be wholly nominative. It is improbable that the powers of this body are intended to be much more than administrative and advisory, but here again there must be careful selection. The whole tenor of Sir James Allen's speech goes to show how much the New Zealand Government must lean upon its representatives in the islands, Civil servants, and nominated advisers. The interests of Europeans may, and probably will, clash with those of the natives. This is already illustrated in the liquor question, on which the Government has been led to favour prohibition of the white race for the sake of the natives. It will be more strongly emphasised in the labour question, which is full of difficulties. Sir James Allen takes the view of all who have studied the conditions of the islands when he says that it is impossible to increase, or even maintain, the development of Samoa by relying exclusively on Samoan labour. Some outside source of labour must, therefore, be sought, but it must be sought under conditions creditable, to New Zealand and just to Samoa. Policies of this kind must largely be shaped by the advice of the me* on the spot, hence the paramount importance of sending to Samoa only wise and sympathetic administrators and capable Civil servants.