SAMOAN AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22823, 2 September 1937, Page 10

SAMOAN AFFAIRS

ADMINISTRATOR'S POST M.P.'S NAME MENTIONED APPOINTMENT NOT MADE STATEMENT BY ME. SAVAGE A report from Apia last night that Mr, J. O'Brien, Government M.P. for Westland, would be appointed to the office of Administrator of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa, was not confirmed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in a telephone conversation with the Herald from Christchurch. Since August, 1935, when Sir Herbert Hart left Apia for New Zealand, Western Samoa has been without an administrator, Mr. A. C. Turnbull having acted in,that capacity pending a definite appointment to the position. The Goodwill Mission Shortly after the present Government assumed office Mr. Savage indicated that the position would be filled as soon as possible, and when the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, headed a goodwill mission to the territory last year, the sending of Mr. O'Brien as a member of that mission was regarded in many quarters as significant of his approaching appointment to the office of administrator. Mr. Savage said last night, however, that'the Government had not yet been nble to consider a definite appointment, other matters which the Cabinet considered more important having intervened. It was the wish of the Government to fill the office as soon as possible, but it had been thought that more urgent work should be given attention first. Mr. Turnbull's Position Although the position had not been filled, Mr. Turnbull had received the Government's sympathetic consideration for the extra work he had undertaken and his salary had been increased and other aspects of his position improved. The appointment of an administrator would be made when the Government felt it could give consideration to the matter, but so far no appointment had been made, and, although it was possible that Mr. O'Brien's name had been circulated in some quarters as Sir Herbert Hart's successor he had certainly not been appointed. " There are so many other matters which we feel should be dealt with before this one," said Mr. Savage, " that I do not think_ an announcement can be made for some time yet. We do wish, however, to make the appointment as soon as we can." COMMENT BY MR. J. O'BRIEN DENIAL OF KNOWLEDGE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] GREYMOUTH, "Wednesday In an interview this evening regarding the report from Samoa that he wotdd be the new Administrator, Mr. J. O'Brien, M.P., said he knew nothing whatever of the Government's intentions regarding the position. He was fully aware that the Mau and Samoans had made repeated requests to the Government to appoint him Administrator, but he knew nothing moro.