SAMOAN ADMINISTRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17802, 8 June 1921, Page 6

SAMOAN ADMINISTRATION.

The public will welcome the intimation that the Minister for External Affairs intends to visit Samoa. The distance of the group from New Zealand and the inevitable delegation of executive authority to officials on the spot make it difficult for the Parliament or the public of the Dominion to judge of the character and success of the

administration. That there have been difficulties need create no surprise. The establishment of civil in such a group takes time, and it is no necessary condemnation of the administration that it has excited occasional opposition among both Europeans and natives. The interests of Europeans and natives often clash, and the administrator who would dispense even-handed justice 'must j tread on many corns. But'while jthe officers who are governing Samoa on behalf of New Zealand should not be too hastily condemned, it will be Mr. Lee's duty to investigate \ all complaints which appear to have a reasonable basis, and to strengthen the administrajtion at any,weak point. "The condijtion of the Crown estates will also j demand' his careful attention, and jhis observations on the vexed question of the labour supply will be [awaited with interest. On one other point Mr. Lee will do well to make personal inquiries. There is ! a widespread impression that the administration of Samoa is unnecessarily expensive, and the official ; staffs altogether too large for the j work devolving upon them. If this lis so the public will expect the Minister to prune without fear or j favour. While NewZealanders have j every desire to discharge the Samoan mandate faithfully, they have no wish to do it in an unnecessarily extravagant manner. The times are far too serious for departmental waste and economy should be the order of the day in Samoa as well as in New Zealand.