GOODWILL MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22908, 16 June 1936, Page 10

GOODWILL MISSION

DELEGATION TO SAMOA

PURPOSE OF THE VISIT

(Per United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 15. "It is purely a goodwill mission, and wo will hold out the hand of cordial friendship to the people of Samoa, said the Minister of Lands, Mr F. Langstone, who, with Mr J. O'Brien, the member for Westland, will leave Wellington tomorrow afternoon for the mandated territory of Samoa as a delegation from the New Zealand Government. "The mandated territory of Western Samoa was handed over to New Zealand as a sacred trust, and the good name ot our country and of its people is involved in its administration," Mr Langstone said in a farewell message. " Naturally we are anxious- that any administration under our jurisdiction should rank high in the councils of the nations, and that it should be well received by the League, which ultimately is responsible for the mandate. "The reason why tl.e Prime Minister, Mr M. J. Savage, is sending a goodwill delegation to the Samoans is that we should he able to understand and grasp the Samoan mind. It will be a difficult thing to do in such a short period, but that is the purpose of our visit. We want to avoid the conflict and antagonisms which have arisen in the past, and which have resulted in much heartburning both among the Samoans and the New Zealand people." Accompanying the delegation will be Mrs Langstone, Mrs O'Brien, Mr A. W. Mulligan, private secretary to the Minister, who will act in a secretarial capacity to the delegation, Mrs Mulligan, ami Mr T. F. Reilly, of the literary staff of the Dominion, who will represent the United Press Association of New Zealand.