POSITION IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19676, 30 June 1927, Page 10

POSITION IN SAMOA.

INVESTIGATION SUGGESTED. NO CHANGE IN MANDATE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. " Will the Government agree to a Parliamentary delegation representative of all parties going to Samoa during the recess to inquire into the situation ?" asked the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, when the Prime Minister, Mr. Ooates, said in the House early this morning that an investigation of the position in Samoa would be, welcomed. The Prime Minister: I think memhers can rest assured they would have a very enjoyable time, but it would be very expensive. Mr. Holland suggested a select committee. The Prime Minister: Would that leave room for all the members who would wish to go? The question is one that can he considered. In answer to another question by Mr. Holland, the Prime Minister said thgre was no doubt the disposal of the mandate was in the hands of the League of Nations. There was no, suggestion that it would be taken away from New Zealand, and equally none that it would be given to Germany. Mr. Holland: Of course not. PASSIVE RESISTANCE POLICY.

TRADE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. A. and N./5. SUVA. June 20. The Apia correspondent of the Fiji Times says Western Samoa is politically quiet. Some of the chiefs have adopted passive resistance. In one district they have ordered the natives to do no work and to pay no taxes, also to disregard official functions. The majority of the natives do not understand the agitation, but follow the chiefs who are dominated by the European members of the Citizens' Committee. The instructions given by the Hon. VV. Xosworthy to cease agitating have not been carried out. In addition to the two chiefs who have been sent to Apolima, others,have been ordered to return to their own villages. Loyal chiefs have asked that the Europeans on the committee shall be punished. Samoa's production has been seriously impelled. It is a case of " all talk and no work." A Clan Line steamer sailed with a shortage of 600 tons of copra.