CONDITIONS IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 14

CONDITIONS IN SAMOA.

REVIEW OF NATIVE LIFE. PAST ADMINISTRATOR'S WORK. "WELFARE OFFICER'S TRIBUTE. An; interesting sidelight on tho present 'renditions in Samoa is provided by Mr. K. H. Melvin, who has just returned to 'Auckland from Samoa, where ho acted as welfare officer with the military police force. Mr. Melvin pays a tribute to the work of the previous Administrator, Sir .UQorgo Richardson, particularly in (he matter of native sanitation and the pro- ■ vision of recreation facilities. 111-advised utterances and ill-informed statements havo seriously compromised tho already difficult work of the administration of Samoa, but it stands true that the man living on the spot sees the position more clearly than tho passing traveller, from whom most of the misstatements made havo usually come,"said Mr. Melvin yesterday. " I have no per■sonal interest in the situation other than as it has affected my own work as welfare officer of tho military police force, but ihere are somo things which should be said if the conflicting welter of statements is to be vexed by yet another contribution. Psychology ol Samoans. "With 12 months' residence in the retrospect it is not difficult to understand the persistence of the political difficulties, for thero is no more baffling psychology than that of the Samoan mind. But one is impelled to strong admiration of tho characteristics with which we came in touch in the course of our work with tho unit. This welfare work offered peculiar difficulties, for not ono of tho members of the forco had any previous experienco under like conditions, but this burden was shouldered and • shared by tho very folk that we as a force were sent to discipline. A prodigal hospitality and the most cordial relationship characterised even tho homes of many Mau adherents, and tho proverbial kindness of these people to tho chance traveller was enjoyed again and again. " Moving about the islands one speedily forgets the political issues in tho charm of place and people, and one of tho most satisfying features of a close acquaintance with the village life is the very tangible evidence of a strong and formative policy on the part of tho former Administration under Sir George Richardson. The splendid sanitary systems 'introduced into tho community life are te-day increasingly notable- by their gradual disappearance, and tho inevitable nativo carelessness is breeding a most regrettable condition throughout the villages, roadways and seafront. j Provision for Recreation. " Not only in the department of village sanitation are these evidences of a sound policy to be observed, but also, especially in the departments affecting tho social and recreational welfare of the nativo youths are to bo noticed somo outstanding features. It was in this connection that I was mostly concerned by the i nature of my work, and such activities evidently figured largely in the council of the late Administrator. " Over half the pojmlation of Samoa is under 18 years of age, with, roughly, 400 whites and 2000 half-castes, of a total including nearly 40,000 Samoans. Much verbiage was expended by the recent commission as to the inadvisability of expense upon the remarkably fine park and recreation grounds completed by the * former Administration, the argument used being that it was an unjustified expenditure for a favoured few. Those of us •who watched the youth of Apia and the districts surrounding were impressed with the value of this community recreation sis a unifying influence in the life of these youths. • Of the eight or nine football ' teams competing in the regular Rugby - grades, quite 80 per cent, are native boys, the remaining 20 per cent, being half-castes. Several of these teams, " Representing Mau districts,, are coached by Government officials, and the influence "•-of such an arrangement is obvious. No finer corrective to partisan and unpatri- ' otic propaganda could be devised, and tho healthy spirit of such activities will contribute very appreciably to the final settlement of these people. "Working to Earn Race-money.

" Unwittingly, humour is periodically supplied by the native race meeting, and tha freemasonry of the course is still a further factor in the restoration of the normal order. As in New Zealand, frequent applications arc made for country totalisator licences, and, oddly enough, the lure of the sport had a most useful result —the reapplication of the natives to the neglected work of planting and copracntting in order to earn the necessary

expenses. • "Across in. Savaii, Western Samoa's lesser isle in all save size, lacking white settlement, there is a more normal native life, and there are many indications of the capacity of Captain William M. Bell, late Resident Commissioner. Here, again, our work brought us in touch with the work of a fine officer, and his splendid free circulating library was placed at the disposal of the men of our force. An enthusiast in all respects, Captain Bell has made for himself a permanent place in the regard of those who rightly appreciate the difficulties ,of satisfactory administration in theso islands.