AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 12

AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

MAU INFLUENCE ON WANE. EX-MEDICAL OFFICER'S VIEWS. PRAISE FOR ADMINISTRATOR. An impression that the days of trouble in Samoa, are now nearing their end was gained during a short visit to the Islands by Dr. S. G. Trail, once chief Government medical ollicer at Samoa, who returned to Auckland by the Tofua last evening. It appeared to him that the Man movement was on the decline, and that tlk: Administrator, Mr. S. S. Allen, bad the situation well in hand. 110 is the ideal man for the job," Dr. I rail said. Although it was six years since he served in Samoa, Dr. Trail did not notice many changes on his visit. Ihe influence of the Mau was apparent in some instances. A great demonstration, extraordinarily well organised, greeted Tamasese, the nativo leader, on his return from Auckland after serving his sentence of imprisonment. 'J. ho natives seemed to set themselves out to impress the European visitors for propaganda purposes, and the whole ceremony took place just as the Tofua reached Apia, Tamascso having left the vessel at Suva and travelled on to Apia by a small coastal boat. Tamasese was very haughty in his bearing, Dr. Trail said, but the reception passed off without any untoward incident. Women Against tho Mau. Another indication that party feeling was still running on the island lay in the fact that chiefs who favoured the Administration and tho Mau respectively would not recognise one another. Quite frequently he had been talking to a Mau chiof, had hailed another chief who acknowledged the Administration and tho former would walk away. Thero was a strong feeling of suspicion between the t>vo sides. "However, I gathered from those fully in touch with events that tho influence of the Mau is definitely on the wane, and that tho natives are beginning to question the uso of the organisation," Dr. Trail said. "The Mau natives are now voluntarily searching for beetles, a task which they refused at the time of the serious trouble. The native women appear to bo 'fed up' with the Mau. Their merffolk go away and attend meetings for days at a time, leaving the women to do all* tho work of< the villages. If the women set themselves definitely against a movement its downfall seems more or less predestined. No Sign of Influenza Epidemic.

"My impression is that tho Mau movement would not be serious at all if it were not for tho influence of somo Europeans behind the natives. The Administrator puzzles tho Samoans, and this is tho best way to gain their respect. Ho will listen to them and act, but he will not talk, and tho result is that his authority is increasing all the time. Mr. Allen still has a hard task ahead of him, but his work up to tho present has been splendid." There was not the slightest sign of an influenza epidemic on the island, Dr. Trail continued, and tho reports that thoro had been a serious outbreak were utterly unfounded. The health of the natives was good, and ho had been pleased to see tho clear skins of tho men at the reception to Tamasose. This was proof that tho medical sorvico was curing tho skin diseases with which the Samoans had been afflicted.

"General conditions in Samoa appeared to bo fairly quiet," Dr. Trail said. "The market for copra is poor at present, the prices being only about £l2 a ton, instead of £l6. The natives will probably blame tho Administration for this, but it can remain safely in the possession of a clear conscience." Dr. Trail will leave for Christchureh by train this evening.