WESTERN SAMOA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 29

WESTERN SAMOA.

RESTRICTION ON TELEGRAMS. WELLINGTON, February 27. A Supplementary Gazette published tonight contains a notice authorising the Administrator of Western Samoa to prohibit the transmission or delivery of tele grams in the following cases:— 1. Any telegram expressed in code, unless such telegram is accompanied by a transcript certified as correct to the satisfaction of the Administrator. 2. Any telegram which, in the opinion of the Administrator, contains matter of a treasonable, seditious, libellous, or grossly offensive character. 3. Any telegram which, in the opinion of the Administrator, is intended or <s likely to instigate the commission of any criminal offence. 4. Any telegram which, in the opinion of the Administrator, is intended to or may cause any person in any way to pre vent cr hinder or attempt to prevent hinder the due performance by the Government of New Zealand of its functions and duties in relation to Western Samoa, or is in the opinion of the Administrator in anv way calculated to prevent or hinder the due administration of the Executive Government of the territory. LABOUR’S ATTITUDE CRITICISED. AUCKLAND. February 27. 0. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) delivered an address at Papatoetoe to-night. The Minister criticised Labour’s attitude towards Samoa, stating that Labour was traditionally hostile to'British methods of Government. Like the Maoris, the Samoans were easily swaved, said Mr Hawken, and only a firm hand would brim? them out of their unrest. _The attitude of Labour toward the Samoans was complex, and was just what might hai*e been expected from past experience, except that in this case Labour, because it suited it, had allied itself with the wealthy, traders. ... . . APIA. February 27. All is quiet. About 250 Mau sympathisers from Eastern Upolu reached Apia this morning, and another big gatherin" is taking place on the outskirts of Apia” consisting of probably 400 people.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S POSITION. WELLINGTON, February 29. M ith reference to the press announcement of the resolution passed by a gathering of returned soldiers at Denniston during the recent visit of the Governor-General, his Excellency desires it to be understood that when the proposal to despatch a telegram to Majorgeneral Sir George Richardson was made his Excellency expressly stated that as the situation in Samoa was the subject of political controversy be could noE associate himself with the matter in any form.

TRIAL OF MAU POLICE. . APIA. February 23. Chief justice Woodward heard the cases yesterday against the illegal Mau police, all of whom were found guilty. Sen tones Was deferred. ADMINISTRATION DEFENDED. GREYMOUTH, March 1. In an interview granted to the Star to-day Mr Cruickshank, ex-Commissioner of Police and Prisons at Samoa, made an . j n teresting statement concerning the crisis in Samoa. Mr Cruickshank is on a holiday visit t., Greymouth. retired from the police force in 1920. after serving for'43 years, going out with the rank of superintendent. He visited the Old Country, and while in London accepted the post of Commissioner in Samoa. He commenced duty on January, 1922, and during the four years he held the position reorganised the Samoan police and prisons service. “ Speaking without bias—personal, financial, or political—l will give vou the facts relating to the trouble in Samoa,” said Mr Cruickshank. “ I know personally Nelson. Smythe, and Gutr. also Westbrook. Williams, and all the other members of the Citizens’ Committee, a self-constituted organisation whose interest as traders is to make profits, in contrast to the Administration’s object, which is to administer the affairs of the islands for the benefit of all, and especially to the interests of the natives themselves, who are quite incapable, and will be so for years, of carrying out the administration themselves, even in the minor branches. “ The trouble in Samoa arises from only two sources—namely, prolrbition nnd copra. Ever since prohibition was inaugurated there has been an agitation to restore the licensed bar, and it continues as strongly as ever, notwithstanding statements to the contrary. Speaking from my knowledge of the natives and half-castes, I am satisfied that the open bar and the sale of intoxicating liquor for personal gain, even with restrictions, is certainly not in the best interests of either the natives or rhe halfcastes, nor of the European residents. In some cases, owing to the enervating climate, a stimulant under medical direction is necessary, and that system is in force. Some politicians have publicly stated that the administrative officials are violating the law by manufacturing liquor. That is only a half-truth. The fact is that a European in such a climate cannot drink much water and keep healthy. A light beer is brewed, and if not of over 3 per cent, alcoholic strength is allowed by law. Many Europeans, including the administrative officials, make this beverage, which is quite lawful.

In fact, a number of traders manufacture and sell it to anyone who wishes to buy, including natives.

“In American Samoa, seventy miles distant, all the copra is collected from the natives by the American Administration and sold in the highest market, the proceeds being handed over to the natives; but in Western Samoa the Burns-Philp and Nelson Companies and a few smaller traders purchase all the natives’ copra. The price of copra is practically decided by Mr Nelson and and the Burns-Philp traders. The Administrator, who has the interests of the natives at heart, intimated that he intended to collect native conra and market it on behalf of the natives, so that they would get a better price for the copra. Up to this point all was well. There was no Mau, no agitation, and no trouble. The trouble started after the visit made to New Zealand by Mr Nelson, and' the Mau was set up. General Richardson s administration was appreciated bv every body except some beachcombers, who must find fault with everybody and everything. “No Administrator. including the political critics in New Zealand, couid get on with Mr Nelson unless they carried out his ideas and wishes. I am under no obligation to General Richardson, who is just the same to me as anyone else. During the years I spent in Samoa made a study of native psychology The 32 native constables under me were ill chiefs, and I was able to gather infor mation from them as to how the new administrative ideas were taking on among the natives generally.

“ General Richardson does not con sider himself at all. He is working wholly and solely in the interests of the natives No man could have done better than h" has done in Samoa with regard to the medical, educational, moral, and saiiitnrv welfare of the natives. “It has been said in New Zealand that there is too much ’ brass hat ’ and military domination in Samoa. There is absolutely no such thing, and every Samoan, from the highest to the lowest native, can approach General Richardson for advice and guidance, and has done so.

Much political capital has been made jut of the term ‘ banishment,’ but it ’s unwarranted. In Samoa banishment means this: A chief or native of lesser rank often leaves his own village and goes to stay at another. His conduct, moral and otherwise, becomes obnoxious, and the villages complain to the polenu (the native responsible for the onduct >1 the village). If he considers the com plaint justified he sends it 'on to the Faipule (native member of Parliament), who requests the Administrator to have the offending native removed. Inquire.are then made bv the departmental officers. If they regard the complaint as well founded and consider there "s likely to be a serious disturbance in he village, the Administrator issues an order for the native to leave the village and return to his own. In some cases a scallyway ” chief becomes obnoxious in his own village, and the tequest is made for his removal. If the Administrator is satisfied that the chief’s continued residence in the village is likely to lead to trouble and perhaps bloodshed the chief is ordered to go to some distant village and remain there for a stated period—generally six months or a year. That .s the procedure, and that is what has been called ‘ banishment.’ The so-called banishment that has taken place from Samoa, is simply in the interests of all concerned, includinix those who are removed.

“ Chiefs in Samoa are as thick as sparrows. In every other village they have, as it were, a * chief factory.’ Any native j who considers himself a grand orator and is too lazy to work has only to kill a pig and give his neighbours a feast to be a chief. Then he struts about like a peacock and in many cases domineers over the people. A number of these chiefs are ; thorough * scallywags. ’ They are jealous ’ of the Faipules, who hold official salaried i positions, and liold a fono (or local native | parliament) every six months with the ; Administrator. ACTIVITIES OF THE MAU. “ The Samoan native is like a schoolboy For instance, if one bov at a New Zea land school had a top another would want it. That explains Samoan jealousy The Mau is really an assemblage of dissatis lied chiefs, who are jealous of those in. Government positions A great deal has been mad e by political critics in New Zealand of what they allege to be the .big ’ stick ‘ methods employed by the Government. Recently half a dozen unarmed police constables were sent to Samoa, and critics made a terrible noise about such a tremendous demonstration of force. There were only two European police officers m Samoa, and the half-dozen constab'es brought the force to eight all told There are about 30 native police, but they can not wholly be depended upon in a crisis. The population of Samoa is 40,000 Natives number 38,000, and of the remainly 2000 only 500 or 600 are Europeans, the remainder being half-castes Can any sane man say that eight European police for 40,000 inhabitants scattered over the two islands of Samoa is a number in excess of even ordinary requirements? “ I think the big stick ’ has been in the hands of the Mau, which is really a Government in opposition to the Administration.. General Richardson invited the Mau to discuss their grievances, but they have no real grievances. The Samoan natives collectively are a fine, lovable people, and it is a shame that they are to be put in ‘ no-man’s land' between two opposing forces, and made the medium either of economic or political propaganda, ydiich may lead to serious consequences I consider it most unmanly to make allegations against General Richardson behind his back, because he has no opportunity of replying.

- ” Mr Nelson has many good qualities. He is a friend of mine, and I am quite friendly towards him, but I would like the people of New Zealand to know the truth, and that is my only motive for speaking. If the people of New Zealand knew as . much as I do about Samoa and its people, there would probably be less criticism and propaganda from certain quarters, as it would not have a hope of deceiving New Zealanders.” TRIAL OF NATIVE DOLICE. APIA. February 29. Four hundred illegal native police of the Samoan League were convicted for intimidating other natives dealing with European storekeepers, and were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The cruisers are still at Apia. Troops are patrolling the town There have been no physical disturbances. DUNEDIN AND DIOMEDE. LONDON. February 29. Mr W. C. Bridgeman (First Lord of the Admiralty), in answer to a question in the House of Commons, said that tho cruisers Dunedin and Diomede were in the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, and were maintained by the New Zealand Government, which was entitled to send them to Samoa. MAU PRISONERS INTERVIEWED. APIA, March 2 General Richardson spoke to the Mau prisoners yesterday afternoon, and re ceived a good hearing after which the High Chief Tamasese, as spokesman, said the Mau men felt that their grievances had been met, but they required time for further consideration of General Richard son s_ speech to them, and would answer definitelv in a day or two The impression tn well-informed circles is that the Administrator’s direct talk to the Mau men cleared away many fostered misunderstandings, and that the outlook is brighter than at any other time in the last 12 months.