SAMOANS AND THE KING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22332, 1 February 1936, Page 17

SAMOANS AND THE KING

Sir, —The Herald published a Press Association message from Apia in which it was reported that although the members of the Mau declined the invitation for the ceremony held by the Administration on the day in which the late King was laid to rest, that organisation of tho Samoans held a separate function at Vaimoso in honour of the occasion. The president of the Mau, High Chief Fauniuina, asked the large majority of the Samoans who were "dissatisfied with the control of the Government of New Zealand" to observe, with proper respect, the "funeral of the late King," and concluded his remarks with the prayer, "Wo hope tho Lord will bless our new King, Edward VIII." Even were the Mau not, even now, under the ban of being a "seditious" organisation by "declaration" of the Administrator, it must be difficult to find fault with the ceremony reported or the Mau President's speech, except the interpretation some might wish to place on what the Press Association agent referred to as "the Nazi salute." The Fascists in Italy revived what is known as the form of salute of the old Romans. This was very soon followed or copied by many political organisations in other parts of the world, including some in the United Kingdom. The Mau adopted it without knowing that it had become what the Press Association agent styles the "Nazi salute." As a matter of fact, the attention of the Mau was first drawn to it in a picture published in a well-known Auckland weekly newspaper, and it was not a German picturo at all. In the Press Association report of the Proclamation of the new King, held at Apia the week before, special mention was made of the loyalty expressed by the German Concordia Club, of which practically all the Germans in Western Samoa aro members. To whom then may be attributed tho '■' Nazi" salute adopted by the Man? This misrepresentation of everything the discontented Samoans do is largely responsible for the continuance of unrest in Samoa. When will this sort of mischievous propnganda be put a stop to? It is hoped tho new Government will see to that very soon. 0. F. Nelson.