WESTERN SAMOA

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 24

WESTERN SAMOA

THE ADMINSTRATION OF THE TERRITORY. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE By Vailiha. An actual knowledge of Samoa_ and of its people cccras to be desirable in order that the question of the manner in which New Zealand should administer the territory, in terms of its mandate from the Peace Conference, may be intelligently discussed. The writer claims that ho possesses this knowledge from the fact that ho has recently resided in Samoa for a year, _ and that during that period he never missed an opportunity of studying tho place arid its people, that he travelled to many parts, and that he conversed with Germans, Americans, British, Samoan, Chinese, Solomon Islanders, and many others of the cosmopolitan population. SAMOA AND THE SAMOANS.

Western Samoa, as the German islands are generally called, lies betwen 13deg and 14deg S. latitude, about 1560 miles' steaming distance from Auckland, and less than 1000 miles from the equator. As it is in the torrid zone, the climate is exceedingly hot and humid, and white people find life very enervating. This can be easily understood when it is 6tated the average temperature is 73deg, with only a difference of a couple of degrees between the wet and dry seasons into which a Samoari year is about equally divided. The export trade, which has been hard hit by the war, is practically confined to the shipment of copra. To a total export of a value of £320,000 in 1917, copra contributed £231,000. Samoa could, however, be made to produce great quantities of cocoa, rubber, kapok, and fruits of all tropical kinds, such as pineapples, oranges, bananas, etc. The islands are small, Savaii being only about 48 miles in length by 25 in breadth, and Upolu about 40 miles in length and about 14 in breadth; but the soil is so fertile that it is safe to state that exportable products could be raised to an extent largelv in excess of anything that has been accom plished in the past. The Samoaj&s are a handsome and intelligent race. They are (hospitable, 'very clean, and exceedingly moral Robert Louis Stevenson, who lived there for years, said: "I love the land, and I have chosen it to be my home while I live, and my gravo after I am dead. And I love the people, and have chosen them to be my people to live and die with." The affection which he entertained for the Samoans is shared by all others who have lived among them, as I have. In concluding his work on "Samoa," Mr William Churchward, who held the position of British Acting-Consul and Deputy Comnr'sioner for the Western Pacific, says: "Taking the "Samoans for all in all, and judging from their past history and present condition, there is not a people more worthy of consideration and preservation; more susceptible of improvement, or more willing to be taught to take that posi tion among the intelligent races that they have so often and so earnestly sought our help to win." PAST ADMINISTRATION.

It -was in 1900 that the German flag was hoisted in Apia,, the western islands of the group having been ceded to Germany by the decision of the three Britain, America, and Germany—which had up to that time jointly administered the affairs of the whole group.- The islands of Tutuila and Manu'a and all other islands of the Samoan groun east of the 171st degree, West longitude, went to America, and are now known as American Samoa. As the administration of these two groups of islands occupied by tho same people was conducted on two completely different systems, a comparison of the two systems is of interest. Once the Germans got a proper hold of Western Samoa, they set out to commercialise their new possession. The first difficulty they encountered was the independence of spirit displayed by the Samoans. For generations the Samoans have never worked in the sense an Englishman understands the word. There is r<o need for them so to work. Nature is bountiful and the natives' food grows almost without the cultivation of the land. Living, as they do. ns communists, in a land of eternal summer, their simple wants are easily supplied. I have often heard it said that "the Samoans won't work." As a matter of fact it is only fair to say that nobedy else does work in Samoa with the energy with which a man works in temperate countries like New Zealand. Finding that the Samoans did not take kindly to them and their commercial methods, tho Germans decided to import " indentured" labour. This word " indentured " covers a form of slawery abhorrcnt to every man who possesses any sens-? of humanity at all. During the German regime hundreds of Solomon Islanders were brought to the islands, and a great number of them have been kept there ever since, -and arc there to this day. Hundreds of low-grade ■Chinese coolies were .also introduced. Th" Chinese got the imposing wage of a .shilling a day, tho Solomon Islanders getting much to make profitable use of these coolies the Germans "leased" the best lands from the Samoans, and put the coolies to work on them to grow cocoanut. rubber, cocoa, and other trees. The effect was to yield important revenues to tho Germans. I can honestly say that I never saw less evidence of public works anywhere than is to bo com in Samoa. This was because tho Germans valued tho islands only for what they could make out of them. Apart from tho necessary wharfage accommodation and a few fairly we'll kept roads near Apia, tho placo is in a very undeveloped condition.

In American Samoa an entirely different sort of administration prevails. The Americans, placing tho interests of the natives first, interfere as little as possible with them. Briefly, tho Samoan Islands under the United States are administered as follows :

(1) The President of the United States has delegated to the Navy Department tho control of the islands.

(2) The Governor is a naval officer, ap pointed by the President.

(3) All laws are mado by the Governor and are subject to the approval of the Navy Department. (4) The natives have a considerable amount of self-government, for they pass laws concerning their communities and villages, and retain as far as possible their old forms of government. (5) Tho native officials are paid from the native tax fund, raised by assessment fixed by the natives themselves. (6) Since the establishment of the Government tho natives have each year requested the Government to handle all the copra, the Government buying the copra from tho natives, and selling it to the highest bidder for the year's crop. Under this system no copra is bought by local storekeepers, and the quality of copra produced is uniformly good. (7) The islands are divided . into five judicial districts, each presided over by a native district judge, appointed by the Governor. Under each district judge are the native magistrates, who make monthly reports to the judge. The chiefs of the towns make monthly reports of affairs concerning their towns, and reports of all meetings hold, to the district governors. (8) The alienation of native land is prohibited, but land can be leased for a period not exceeding 40 years, with the approval of the Governor. The consumption of intoxicating liquors by natives and the sup-' plying of them to the natives is prohibited. This will ,c;ive a general idea of the method adopted .by America of treating the Samoans under her care. Her efforts have been completely successful, as the natives are happy and contented, as well as prosperous. As the Samoans are a lawabiding and peaceful race, it is safe to place a good deal of responsibility on their shoulders. THE MANDATE TO NEW ZEALAND.

The result of a personal study of German methods and of a careful consideration of America's system of administration, is to suggest 'that if the American system should be adopted by New Zealand a large measure of success might be expected to follow from it. In the terms of the mandate to New Zealand the best interests of the Samoan natives have to be the first consideration of this dominion. This is only as it should be. And this should entail the abolition of the, German "indentured labour" system. It is true that many consider that this will mean ruin to Samoa. But it is certainly not evident that it will do so. Prior to the epidemic of influenza there were 1500 Chinese coolies, and about 700 Solomon Islanders on the group. The return of many Chinese to their own country, and the mortality during the epidemic haV© reduced the number" considerably. The abolition of the indentured labour system need not be effected suddenly. It might be brought about gradually throughout a series of years. The Americans have no need of indentured labour for their plantations, and their people provide favourable results. In three years the export of copra from the island of Tutuila has increased by 100 per cent., and this year is very likely to provide a record exportation. The question ns to 'ho\y' New Zealand should most effectively administer Samoa, would be best answered by New Zealand not administering the place at all except in a more or less perfunctory way. "Let the Samoans administer themselves" is the solution! This may seem daring to New Zealanders, who are not acquainted with the place, but actually there is nothing daring about it. _ To begin with, the Samoans are a law-abiding, moral people. possessing a remarkable aptitude for self government. - They are very intelligent, and are keen to improve themselves. Even now they provide most of their own policemen and native magistrates, school teachers, clergymen, etc. It is instructive in this connection to consider the case of Tonga The Ton cans are a Polynesian race somewhat similar to the Samoans. The. products of Tonga are similar to those of Samoa. Tonga has almost complete, independence. It is of course a British protectorate, but it is allowed its own "King," it has its own parliament, and it acts for itself iust as New Zealand does. In spite of what one would expect to be the case where a native race is left to govern itself, the placo !s prosperous, happy, and contented, and never gives the> British Government the slightest worry. Why should Samoa prove an exception? What real worry have our own Cook Islands caused us? Yet, they are inhabited by a people similar to the Samoans.

It may bo advisable that New Zealand should appoint a Royal Commission to consider tho whole subject of giving Samoa a ?nodel constitution. This commission might with advantage visit Tonga, the Cook Islands, American Samoa, and then Samoa itself. This procedure would probably involve a considerable; expenditure, but the first cost would be cheap at the pr'co if the work of the commission was well done. By visiting the places mentioned tho commission would be able to study the various systems which are actually in operation at those places. Then when it went to Samoa it should meet' the native high chiefs and others, and discuss the whole matter with them. It would bo worse than useless for the New Zealand Parliament _ to attempt to draw up a system of administration for a people about which our legislators know practically nothing. Not one of them, so far as I know, has ever been at Samoa. The business of governing Samoa should be done well if it is to bo a credit to us. Thn Samoans are the "aristocracy" of the Pacific, as one authority has described them. They are a Christian people, and have a great respect for the British. They desire a largo share of self-government. Their islands are wonderfully productive, and wisely governed, can never be a source of expense to New Zealand. As Mr Churchward says: "There is not a people more willing to be tausrht to take that position among the intelligent races that they have so often and so earnestly sought our help to win." We should be able to lead them wisely in the way they wish to be led. Under wise guidance, the islands will progress rapidlv, tho Samoans will live peacefully, lawfully, and prosperously, and neither Samoa or New Zealand will ever regret tho day that tho Peace

Conference gave New Zealand the responsibiiity of looking after the best interests of the Samoans.