LIFE IN SAMOA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23222, 21 June 1937, Page 3

LIFE IN SAMOA

ILLUSTRATED LECTURE An exceptionally interesting address, illustrated by lantern slides and a moving picture film, was given to a crowded gathering on Friday evening by Mr D. A. J. Rutherford, under the auspices of the Institute of Pacific Relations. Dr E. N. Merrington apologised for the absence of the president, Mr W. Downie Stewart, and introduced the speaker, who, he said, had spent 18 years in Samoa and had been for many years the Director of Education there. At the beginning of his lecture Mr Rutherford exhibited the German flag which had been taken down in the educational buildings in Samoa after the war. together with the present -Samoan flag with its three coconut palms in the corner, the latter being little-known in New Zealand Then* was, Mr Rutherford said, a fair amount of ignorance as to the extent of Polynesia, and because of this the first slide took the form of a map of the Pacific, indicating the large area covered by this archipelago. A second map showed the division of the Samoan islands into those under the mandate of New Zealand and those under that of America All the islands were of volcanic origin and surrounded by coral reefs. In American Samoa there was a population of 11.000. while in New Zealand Samoa the figure was 56,000. 53.000 of whom were natives. Like the Maoris of New Zealand, the Samoans had a quaint legend concerning the origin of their islands. The climate, the speaker continued, was truly tropical, the wet season extending from November to April and the dry from April to November The rains which were of a sudden and heavy nature, were often followed by brilliant sunshine. The moving picture which was shown portrayed every phase of Samoan life and customs To these natives, Mr Rutherford said, food was of primary importance, and everything else came afterwards They provided for ' today," and seldom gave a thought to yesterday or to-morrow The food of the islanders consisted of fish, wild pig (with which the islands were abundant) turtles, coconuts, bananas, breadfruit, and other such commodities. The people loved ceremony, and made anv occasion an excuse for it. The speaker had seen as many as 300 wild pigs prepared for one of these ceremonial feasts, while one large turtle had been known to fed as many as 150 people Even the serving of thenfood was carefully planned and organised, certain specified portions of the pig being served to the people according to the position they occupied in the community. Other aspects touched upon by Mr Rutherford were the progress of education under New Zealand control, the efficiency of the native teachers, the euphony of the language, the courage of the people, and their skill in all the spheres of their life. A very warm vote of thanks was accorded to the speaker by an appreciative audience.