DOMINION'S OBLIGATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20517, 19 March 1930, Page 15

DOMINION'S OBLIGATION.

ADMINISTRATOR'S REVIEW. MAU'S MISGUIDED EFFORTS. LIMITATIONS OF NATIVES. NOT YET READY TO GOVERN. [SPECIAL B.EPEESENTATIVE.] Sitting on a mat on the floor of a fale at Vaimoso, the Administrator of Western Samoa, Mr. S. S. Allen, delivered his final speech in the series of fonos during the truce with the Mau. This followed the Mau's letter of 17 points. First he dealt with the question of petitions and reminded the Mau chiefs that he himself has handed them a reply to the petition to the League of Nations. " But in making all these petitions, and in expecting any result from them," said His Excellency, " you are making one great mistake, and that is that you do not use the means are at hand to discuss any matters that you wish, for the welfare of the country. The Administrator is the proper person with whom to discuss these things. The Administrator is appointed to represent the New Zealand Government in Samoa and govern these islands on behalf of Samoa. The New Zealand Government represents the British Empire, and the British Empire is a member of the League of Nations, which exercises the mandate over Samoa. Consequently the Administrator is the proper person to approach, and you are making a mistake in sending forward these petitions and approaching all sorts of persons who are unable or unwilling to give them attention instead of discussing them with the Administrator, who is willing and able to do so on the spot. Mau's Failure. " It is your failure to realise this opportunity, to realise that the Administrator is here, not only to help you and assist you in every way he can, but also to represent the British Empire in your midst and to represent more particularly His Majesty the King—it is your failure to realise this that has been the cause of a great deal of trouble in these islands. During the last two years and more you have refrained from bringing any matters before the Administrator and have preferred to go to all sorts of other outside people, and the result has been complete failure, and it will be always complete failure until you realise that here on the spot, in Samoa, is the proper place to discuss and settle all your troubles." With regard to the question of fonos mentioned in the letter, Mr. Allen said he was quite prepared, as he had always been prepared, to hold fonos to discuss matters of importance either brought before them by himself or those they might bring forward. But it was no use discussing general matters unless they had fonos representative of the whole country and that was the reason why he had suspended the sittings of the Fono of Faipules for the time being because at that time he considered it was useless to meet when" they could not get really representative opinion from the whole 01 the country. Would Call Representative Fono.

But he was prepared at any time to hold a fono representative of all sections of the community, and if they wished he would call one in a few weeks' time, a representative to be chosen from each district of all the matais in that district. Such a fono would be attended by representatives from all districts, and he himself would appoint a few of the more important chiefs who might be regarded as belonging more to the whole of Samoa than to any particular district such, for instance, as the two fautuas, Tuimalealiifano, Tamasese, Faumuina and probably one or two others. With regard to further matters in the Mau's statement there were several questions relating to occurrences affecting generally the administration of justice. " And," continued Mr. Allen, " I should like to say first what I have said here before, that the administration of justice will be carried out with the utmost impartiality irrespective of who may be the offender, whether he he white man or Samoan, whether he be chief or taulealea. With the administration of justice I will not interfere nor will any Administrator who is ever appointed to govern these islands. That is a matter for the Chief Judge and the Courts, and I will not interfere either to grant any safe conduct or protection to those who have broken the law or to shield them in any way from punishment unless the Chief Judge wishes for it. That is the whole principle on which British justice is founded —that it is administered by those who are called on to preside over the Courts, that it is fjuite independent of those who are appointed to carry on the government of the country." Benefits Under Mandate Rule. They had referred particularly to a treaty made 40 years ago before most of those present, except Tuimalealiifano, took great interest in political matters. Many things had happened since. The government of Samoa had been entirely changed and great wars had affected the whole of the world. They asked what was the intention of the New Zealand Government; what was the object of the mandate. He could only say what he had said before that the purpose of the New Zealand Government was to administer its mandate faithfully in the irterests of the Samoan people. "You have only to look around you to see the progress that has been made during the past years. I remember when 1 landed in Samoa first, 35 years ago, that the country had a very different aspect from what it presents to-day, that the population was very much smaller, that there were no facilities for education except such as the missions provided, that the health of the people was not cared for except in the immediate neighbourhood of Apia. There have been great

changes since those days and you yourselves will know even better than I do (he difference in the position to-day, a difference which has been due to the manner in which the New Zealand Government has carried out the mandate. Samoans' Limitations. " Now, we wish to continue that process and to give the Samoan people a larger and larger part in their own government. But I ask you not to deceive yourselves when you consider the progress which has bfeen made, into thinking that no further progress is necessary before the time comes when Samoa can govern itself. I would ask you to consider among yourselves how many Samoans are there in these islands who are managing any business? Do you feel capable even of managing your own mission without some assistance from Euromissionaries? Your own church decide from time to' time that that assistance is necessary. And taking business matters, have you anyone who is trained in methods of finance, anyone who has dealt with banking? Have you anyone who is capable of taking charge of the schools? There are many very capable Samoan teachers, but is there anyone yet who is capable of taking charge of the schools? " If you give consideration to these questions and honest answers I think you will realise with me that the time has not yet come when you can take charge of your own affairs. Take * any other branches of the government—take the hospitals. We havo now some native medical practitioners who are beginning to get the benefit of the training given in that direction. We now have three or four in the country and there will be more from time ito time as .the years

go on, but is thero one man who is capable of managing the of the hospital ? Is there. any trained Samoan lawyer who is capable of presiding at sittings of the Courfj And administering justice in accord* ance with the law, a task that '.re* quires years of training and experience?, Is there anyone who is capable of hand* ling ships and managing the harbour* anyone who can pilot those big ships into their anchorages, see that they are, properly secured, and take charge, more-* over, of their loading and unloading ? "At present there are* no Samoans who are managing any business concern of importance, and if up to the present you have not succeeded in this direction can you hope yet to succeed in managing the concerns of the Government which, after all, is only a business institution, but one managed on much more wide and extensive lines than any of the departments or businesses which I have mentioned. Education is required for all these things, and it is a matter 'bf time.It is necessary that the rising generation, the young people, should be educated and trained not only to take places of their fathers, but more than that—to take their places in the government of the country and ultimately to take charge of the management of its concerns. " I have heard you sometimes say thati one must go slowly in Samoa, that w& go too fast, and you ask for more time for consideration in various matters. Afc present it is you who are wanting to go too fast, and that is not in_ accordance with Samoan custom. It is I and the Government who want to go more slowly, so that the foundations can be laid wisely and firmly and strongly, so that the structure, when it is finally built, may endure and not fall through' weakness of the foundations." Faumuina's reply to the offer of a preservative fono was thai the \l&u would not join with the Malo natives until its wrongs were redressed.