SAMOA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 7

SAMOA.

MR COATES REPLIES TO MR HOLLAND. DEPRECATES INFLAMMATORY REMARKS. (Per Jnited Press Association.J WELLINGTON, January 27. The. Prime Minister has issued the following statement: By this week’s steamer we are despatching six police constables from New Zealand to assist the Administrator in his difficult task. I may explain that at present the white police force consists only of an inspector and one mounted constable, and it is probably unnecessary to say that it is not intended to apply {to use the words of Mr Holland) any policy of the “ big stick,” with that limited “ force.” It is hoped that the dictates of reason will enable the present difficulties in the islands to be surmounted without any attempt at force, but I must, in conclusion, make this statement; That the unjustifiable and inflammatory remarks of the Leader of the Opposition do not assist towards that conciliatory solution of our difficulties which it is our earnest hope to find, and will not redound to the credit of New Zealand. The Prime Minister, referring to Mr Holland’s later cirticism, says: In his statement on Monday he referred to the effect of the Mau upon our health administration, and to the report of the acting chief medical adviser that sanitary measures had been so neglected that in certain villages the places were no better than cesspits, and that an outbreak of disease must be expected. He expressed the opinion that may innocent lives must be lost in Samoa as a direct result of the Mau’s influence in destroying the confidence of the natives in the health administration. Mr Coates adds: “ I am very sorry to say that an outbreak of mild bacillary dysentery has occurred at Savaii, where it was anticipated. I sincerely trust that it will not develop into a serious epidemic.” Dealing generally with Mr Holland’s remarks, Mr Coates points out that the answer to his charges of improper methods is contained in the commission’s report, than which there could never have been a more complete vindication. The report upholds the action taken with regard to the Faipules, and Mr Coates has no knowledge of any promise to give repersentation on the Legislative Council being broken. The Fono of Faipules expressly desires that no such step shoul be taken. POLICE LEAVE AUCKLAND. SIX STRAPPING MEN. (Pee United Peess Association.) AUCKLAND, January 27. j Sis Auckland costables leave for Samoa by the Tofua on Saturday—Callagan, | Shields, Baggo, Hollis, Smith, and Young. All are strapping six-footers. They will wear white ducks and helmets. MORE EXTENDED REPLY. FINDINGS OF COMMISSION. ACTION OF ADMINISTRATOR UPHELD. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, January 27. When shown yesterday’s Press Association message from Westport, conveying some additional remarks by Mr H. E. Holland with reference to Samoa, the Prime Minister this morning made it clear that he was not responsible for the statement regarding American Samoa, to which Mr Holland’s remarks were apparently a reply, and that some misunderstanding had obviously occurred. “ Since my attention has been drawn to the matter, however,” said Mr Coates, “ I have had the opportunity of perusing the official publication issued by the administration of American Samoa, and have been interested to observe the extension of the activities of the Mau to American Samoa. I can quite understand that Mr Holland feels some explanation to be necessary as to why discontent should have arisen amongst that portion of the Samoan people who have not been subjected to the alleged acts of maladministration, which Mr Holland, despite the findings of the commission, persists in attributing to our own administration. I do not propose to explain why American Samoa should bo involved. I think the public are quite competent to draw their own conclusions. “ It had not be-en my intention to comment upon Mr Holland’s reply to my statement on the Samoan position, but as circumstances have necessitated my making this statement, I feel it desirable to refer incidentally to one or two of the remarks made by the Leader of the Opposition. In the first place, in so far as Mr Holland continues to charge the Ad ministration with improper methods, with banishing chiefs without cause, with unconstitutional action, and with an unjustifiable ‘ big stick ’ policy, 1 feel it necessary only to refer once again to the findings of the commission. All these matters were within the scope of the commission’s inquiries, and, as I have said before, there never could have been a more complete vindication of any Administration than is contained in the commis sion’s report. Mr Holland must surely either admit ibis or declare himself openly to be unwilling to recognise either the competence or the bona fides of the members of the commission. “ Mr Holland refers fo the ‘real reasons’ of the trouble, and mentions two specific instances. First, he refers to the appointment and the functions of the Faipules, This, again, is a matter specifically withia thit scope of the coaimis-

sion’s inquiries. It was most carefully inquired into at great length, and the report upholds the action of the Administration in every way.

“ I confess I am somewhat at a loss to understand the second ‘ reason ’ given I by the Leader of the Opposition—flagrant dishonouring of promises made by the New Zealand Government.’ In so far as he refers to- the proposal that the Samoans should be given representation in the Legislative Council, I must again refer to the express desire of the Fono of Faipules, representing the native race, that no such step be taken. I have no knowledge of any promise to the Samoans that has been broken, flagrantly or otherwise, and I say unhesitatingly that there are no grounds whatever for such a suggestion, Mr Holland refers at some length in both his statements to the fact that he personally is not yet in receipt of a copy of the commission’s report. In this connection, I may say that, despite the utmost efforts, it has not yet been possible for the Printing Office to complete this document. The evidence is exceedingly voluminous, and has necessitated a very large amount of work. It is hoped that the complete document will be available in about a week’s time. In order, however, to enable the country to have the earliest and most reliable information as to the actual findings of the commission, a small number of copies of the report itself, omitting the appendices and the evidence, were hurriedly run off, and were supplied for publication to the press of New Zealand, though no copy has as yet been supplied directly to any member of Parliament. Arrangements will be made as soon as the full report is ready to see that each member receives a copy, and in the meantime I find it impossible to understand how any person in New Zealand who is interested in the matter can complain that he has not had the opportunity of ascertaining the contents of the actual report. Mr Holland refers to the ‘ dishonouring ’ of the Government’s promise to lay the report on the table of the House. The promise that we made has not been dishonoured. It was administratively impossible to lay the report on the table during last session. It has not been found possible to print it even yet, and the necessary action has been taken in order that Parliament may early in the session have for its information the documents referred to. ACTIVITIES OF THE MAU. BOYCOTT OF SHOPKEEPERS. (By Radio.) (Special to Press Association.) APIA, January 26. (Received Jan. 27, at 11 p.m. The latest development of the Mau is a boycott of the storekeepers throughout Samoa. One hundred uniformed Mau men, carrying big sticks, are parading the streets of ’ Apia, and preventing the Samoans from patronising the Apia stores. The police warned the Mau that the action was illegal, and further developments arc expected. The failure of Mr Gurr to leave Samoa ! within the allowed 30 days has rendered | him liable to arrest, bat parole has been ( granted on condition that he keeps out of Apia and communicates with no natives, and that he leaves by the Tofua for New Zealand in February.” Mr Gurr announced that he was settling in American Samoa, but the American Governor has announced that lie will not be allowed to land there.