DEVELOPMENT OF SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 8

DEVELOPMENT OF SAMOA.

DOMINION'S OBLIGATION. DIRECT SERVICE REQUIRED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, Friday. Addressing a meeting of members of the Manufacturers' Association and the Expansion League yesterday Sir George Richardson, Administrator of Samoa, said he would remind them that it was their duty to assist in the development of Samoa, This was New . Zealand's sacred trust, and by developing tho country, and incidentally helping tho natives to help themselves, they would be carrying out the mandate laid down by the League of Nations. He would emphasise the fact that New Zealand was destined in the future to play an important part in the Pacific, greater perhaps than any of them realised. He was sure that in opening up trade with Samoa the manufacturers would realise that they were performing a duty, and would not act in the matter purely from selfish motives.

Sir George stressed the fact that, compared with Fiji, Samoa was as yet more or less undeveloped, and that it should be remembered that out of Samoa's population of 40,000, 95 per cent, were natives, who were by no means as educated in industry as the natives of other countries. Fortunately they were now awakening to the necessity of developing their country, and were looking forward to the day when Samoa would be on a plane with other countries. If the manufacturers could combine with the Government to establish direct trade they would not only be doing a good turn to Samoa, but also helping to carry out the terms of the Dominion's mandate.