SAMOAN VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22468, 11 July 1936, Page 15

SAMOAN VISIT

NEW ZEALAND MISSION great fono held STATUS OF THE NATIVES REVOKING " HARSH LAWS " [from our own correspondent] APIA. July -J The goodwill delegation from the New Zealand Government to Samoa, the Hon. F. Langstone and Mr. J. O'Brien, M.Pm are having a busy time seeing and hearing at first hand many phases of Samoan life and conditions. Since their arrival last week they have attended fonos at Mulinu'u and Vaimoso, m et members ol the Legislative Council, representatives from the local Labour Party, the citizens' committee and exservicemen. all of whom have received n patient'and sympathetic hearing. Messrs. Smythc and Carruthers, M.L.C. s, had a discussion regarding the requirements of the island and administration. The matters listed for consideration will be fully gone into when the party return from the maingas next week. The land settlement scheme, as outlined by Mr. Smythc. was favourably received and it was practically decided to settle 10 local-born males on 50-aere blocks. The land is available and it j is proposed to make a general camp [ near the centre of it until each settler j has 10 acres cleared and planted. They ; are to receive £1 a week sustenance j until the land is self-supporting. As soon as the first 10 acres are planted j a start must be made on the second | section, and so on until the whole block , is cleared. Repayment to the Govern- j nicnt will be made from produce mar- ■ keted.

A deputation of ex-servicemen received an assurance that tliev would receive a 40-hour week with an increase of pay. Self-government Question

Over 100 high chiefs, chiefs, orators and tipules, representing all districts in TJ polu and Savai'i, and over 1000 of the rank and file, assembled at Mulinu'u on Tuesday, when the general fono was held. Tasaula-, orator from Malua, made the speech of welcome to Messrs. Langstone, O'Brien and Turnbull, actingAdministrator.

Mr. Langstone said that Mr. O'Brien and himself had met the Man committee at Vaimoso the previous day and had considered. five points that were of interest to the whole of Samoa. They were: —

(1) What is the status of the Samoan in his own country? Mr. Langstone replied'it was equal to that o.f a New Zealander in the Dominion. High Chief Tamasesse interjected that under German rule Samoa was a protectorate, but under the League of Nations it was a mandate. Mr. Langstone explained that the mandate was made on the advice of the committee to the League cf Nations which passed the sacred trust on to New Zealand. The Dominion was anxious to do its best for Samoa. Had the Samoans been left to themselves it would not have been a good thing for Samoa. It was the object of the New Zealand Government to educate the natives into the highest form of ..self-government as quickly as possible. In order to give them a greater interest in the administration of the territory he would suggest the elected members to the Legislative Council be increased to four, which would double their present number. The mission would recommend that for the balance of the contract for bananas the price to. the growers be increased from 4s 6d to os a case. This would be until the end of the year. The Duty on Copra The merchants and traders had stated that the export duty on copra was 30s a ton, whereas in l'iji it was only 2s 6d. He had been assured that any reduction made in this dut\ would be passed on to the producer as an increased price for his copra. I here were 14,000 tons of copra exported annually, which gave £21,000 in duty. If that was reduced some other scheme of taxation would have to be considered to make up the deficiency in revenue, and the people would have to consider the best means of raising that sum without imposing hardship. The cost of running the Government was about £IOO,OOO (2) That harsh laws affecting the natives, that are not employed in New Zealand, be rescinded. Mr. Langstone said that the Acting-Administrator irotild call a meeting of the Legislative Council and the objectionable laws would be revoked. (3) That reparation be made to people for the loss of goods caused by the New Zealand troops, that the families of those who were killed be granted an indemnity, and those who had been in gaol be compensated. Mr. Langstone replied that the present Government would accept no responsibility for the acts of a previous party. Many | members of the present Government had been imprisoned, but they would not dream of claiming an indemnity. The Labour Government would start fresh and be responsible for its own acts. (4) That money spent in defeating harsh laws and litigation in connection therewith be refunded. Mr. Langstone said the Labour Party had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on similar lines, in New Zealand, but they could not claim it now. Government Positions (5) That positions in the Government offices of Samoa be open to localborn people, providing they had the ability to fill them. Mr. Langstone was Quite in agreement. These people should be given every opportunity of proving themselves, and to that end the New Zealand Government had sent Mrs. Parr to revise and improve the education scheme. Mr. O'Brien said he was delighted to see that the people of Samoa had roet together and hoped the longstanding differences would be settled the peaceful future of this beautiful country would be assured by the honesty of purpose and better understanding ol the people. This would remove all doubts and good feeling would result. At the present time there were uncivilised nations that would he glad to tako Samoa by the uso of poison gas and modern arms. They would roako slaves of the people just as had ffen done to the Abvssinians during the Jast few weeks. But Britain and i w . Zealand stood behind Samoa and i w °uld not allow such a thing as long 8s it was under their protection. The Aoyssinians Were a brave people and . , f°>ight to the best of their ability, "t modern warfare had defeated em. New Zealand wished Samoa to •' V( v* happy life in the happiest place < the world. They should all be united < ■ l . mission wished them to state nen- grievances and ask for what they jif'Hed, f°r Mr. Langstone and he were ' ere to assist them.