CONTROL OF SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 12

CONTROL OF SAMOA.

THE DOMINION'S TASK. CARRYING OUT MANDATE. SYSTEM 'OF GOVERNMENT. NO MILITARY CONTROL. [BT TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL BEPOKTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. An explanation of the position regarding the Samoa mandate was made in the House of Representatives to-night by the Minister for Defence in introducing . the Treaties of Peace Bill, which is to provide authority for the administration of the Islands. ' i Sir James Allen said they had received a definite intimation from the Imperial authorities that the mandate for Western Samoa -would be given to New Zealand. The form which the mandate would take had also been received, but it could not be made public until authority to do so was forwarded by the Imperial authorities, and this would not be until it had been approved by the Allied and associated Powers. The form was settled under the sixth paragraph of article 22 of the League of Nations Constitution. The Minister reminded the House of a night, a considerable number of years ago, when New Zealand accepted authority for the Cook Islands. There was considerable excitement, he recalled. They gave three cheers, if he remembered aright, and Bang "God Save the King." He did not except there would be any cheering or singing of "God Save the King" on this occasion. Times had changed. Since then we had been through a great war.

The Capture of the Islands. He recalled that on August 15, 1914, three ships, carrying 1400 or 1500 men, had sailed, the men not knowing where they were going or what they were being called upon to do. There was grave anxiety throughout the country concerning their destination, and the outcome of the expedition. The Government was gravely anxious on account of a degree o:£ uncertainty about their escorts. The anxiety lasted for many days, and the joy was great when it was announced that, the arrangements had been sufficient, and that the men had arrived at their destination and had occupied Samoa without any loss of life. To-night was the consummation of that work. We had fought through the war, and were thankful that it had come to a successful conclusion, but it had left great responsibilities, and the care of Samoa was one of them. It was for New Zealand to say whether she would accept the responsibility or not. If the Bill was passed it would mean that the responsibility was assumed. It should not need much argument from him to persuade them to pass the Bill and to accept the responsibility for these people, a proud and chivalrous race. Like the Maoris, they were a Polynesian people, and there was no land which had a greater knowledge of the Polynesian people than New Zealand. To refuse the charge would be a neglect of duty. He hoped there would be little opposition—indeed no opposition the passing of the Bill.

Not a British Possession. Continuing, Sir James said he thought it necessary to tell the House that the advice received by the Government indicated that Samoa would not become a British possession nor a British protectorate, but New Zealand would have jurisdiction over it within the meaning of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act. A draft Order-in-Gounoil dealing with the administration would shortly be circulated. It was the intention of the Government to recognise the independence in a certain sense of the native population in Samoa. It was not intended in any way to interfere with their rights and their privileges except in so far as was necessary for the good government of the country. The natives had their own customs and their own laws, and these would be respected in so far as they harmonised with, the mandate. The Order-in-Council would provide for a constitution which would give certain powers to the Europeans who were living there. There would be * Legislative Council consisting of not less than four official members in the Public Service and four unofficial members appointed bv the Governor-General. They would be "British subjects, and the two Samoan hifh chiefs would have the right to advise the Administrator and to approach him direct. " Mr. C. J. Parr (Eden) : Will there be e'ected members? Sir James Allen : Later on there may be, but we do not think it wise to adopt the elective principle just yet. I don't think at the present moment it would bo wise to do so. We must feel our way.

The Civil Sen ice. Sir James Allen added that there would t>e definite proposals in regard to the Civil Service. It was intended to make it part and parcel of the New Zealand Civil Service, and to embrace the Cook and other islands in this scheme, so that the Civil Service of New Zealand would deal with these islands. They would be appointed to Cook Island posts, or to posts in Samoa, receiving a tropical allowance, and after thiee years' service there they could resume their former positions in New Zealand. By this means our Civil servants would be able to get a wider and less insular view of matters than if they remained all tie time in their islands. The Civil servants in Samoa and Raxotonga would be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the New Zealand Civil Service. Dominion's Trade Advantage. Under the treaty the trade of Samoa would be open to any members of the league, but under the mandate New Zealand would undoubtedly have special opportunity of encouraging trade between , these islands and Samoa. In regard to the | change in currency from Samoan to Eng- | lish, there was necessarily a loss, but th» whole of this loss had now been made ' up out of surplus revenue. j The responsibility in regard to education was an important one, and the Government realised to the full her resnonsibility in that respect. Already an education system bad been started, and this would be extended. There was also a responsibility in regard to public health. In regard to the land question, the position was different from that in the Cook Islands. The natives in Samoa had their rights, and these would be preserved. The administration of the lands would In' •in the hands of New Zea'nnd. 'I heir 'would be prohibition of ri;»arm.< and of ; intoxicating liquor. Abolition of Liquor. I In regard to tin' liquor question, tie ! i. 111 v \* siy to save ill*- native wii.- to put : tin-" while man un i-.xa-.tlv tin- >aine [mil ! ing. An hon. liiemU'i : Local pi "dibit ion '.' Sir .James Allen : That i- piartnally ; what it mean.-- ! I is the <<nly \' a\ it ' ran he successful !\ ;in nnlplislie<l. Then- would, he added, be a mil and a deputy administrator, and the military Control would be removed altogether. 'Hear, hear.) In regard to finance, he could say that if trade kept up the finances would be sufficient to meet all the charges. There had been an excess of re-venue of £14.00) j during the four years New Zealand had • been administering the country. Theie i «as also she question ol labour, and i there was no doubt thai they could not rely upon the Samoans for all the labour they needed. A voice : Indentured labour. Mr. Holland : Slavery all the time. Sir James Allen said he hoped no hon. member would talk about, slavery. J hey were prohibited from slavery by the mandate itself. If the country v.a- to Indeveloped, some provision must, lie made to secure labour from outside, or the Islands would go back to their old condition.