REPORTS ON SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 8

REPORTS ON SAMOA.

Two reports on the administration of Western Samoa, one general, the other medical, were laid before Parliament last week. Information regarding the work done in these islands is supplied regularly to New Zealand, so the reports contained nothing startlingly new.. .The record was merely brought up to date. Viewed from another angle, these reports are very interesting documents. They are prepared primarily for the information of the League of Nations. They comprise practically the only information the League receives about one of its charges, responsibility for which has been delegated to New Zealand. There have been occasions when reports from mandatories have been referred back to the senders for further particulars. This has not happened with New Zealand. In fact, a recent report was described by the Permanent Mandates Commission, as a model of what such a document should be. The two prepared this year should have no room for complaint. They aggregate 75 pages between them, exclusive of photographic illustrations and maps. No department of life has been omitted. There is a refreshing volume of space given to work done directly for the physical, mental, and moral well-being of the people. The contents are far too long to review; but the very profusion of the information given is a healthy sign. There is nothing to conceal in New Zealand's work in the territory. There is much which can be described with a justifiable pride. Though there may be room for ai'gument and criticism on points of detail, the policy as a whole, designed and carried out primarily for the good of the native people, is one which the Dominion can submit in detail to the League of Nations, confident that the reports, and the facts on which they based, prove conscientious effort to discharge the responsibility laid upon New Zea land.