Patea & Waverley Press. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1927 STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1927, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1927 STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER.

AN interesting sidelight is inrown on Samoan affairs by the report recently presented to Parliament by tire Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of External Affairs, on the' mandated territory of Western Samoa. The report proves up to the hilt how utterly unwarranted were the charges made (by interested parties " against the administration of this territory by the New Zealand Government under its Administrator, Sir George Richardson.. The report commences with an address presented to -Mr. Nosworthy by the Fautuas and Faipules, or leading chiefs of Western Samoa, who do not mince matters with regard to the machinations * of those who, for their own ends, are continually endeavouring to disturb the peace. Vue chiefs state in their report that it would no doubt be an easy matter to settle among their own countrymen, so, that* all would work happily under the administration, but “the task is rendered difficult by the fact that some European merchants in Apia, whose ambition is their own wealth, together with some half-castes, are interfering in matters which are not their concern.” The report goes on to ask that the. Government may do something or issue a command to firbid these Europeans and halfcastes to cause trouble in inciting Samoans to oppose their Government. The report goes, on to say: “ We certify that had it not been for these Europeans and their misleading of some of pur fellowcountrymen there would have been no division in our country to-day, for . all instructions 'issued by opr Administrator carry with them the uplifting and prosperity, of all Samoa, as well as the working in truth and harmony. Our villages are healthier and more beautiful places to live in, because of regulations for sanitation and beautifying. We have good roads and water supplies, plantations are prosperous, the establishment of hospitals, dispensaries and schools, and many other improvements clearly indicate the love of our Governor for ms and-his aim for the future prosperity of our country.” Another address presented by chiefs and others at Fagamalo, Savaii, contains the following significant passage:—“Although we have now expressed before you our loyalty to the Government in every respect, yet it is undoubtedly not hidden 1 from your view that ithere tare unsettled .conditions nowadays. We deeply regret within our hearts that there are a few Europeans Avho aro loading Samoa in wicked paths.” Mr. Nosworthy, it is intercsliug to note, visited Samoa in June last, when he met some of the malcontents face to face, and gave them a few home truths, which .should furnish them and their supporters in this country much /food for reflection. In his reply to the Citizens’ Committee he said, inter alia, “History has

a strange way of repeating itself, and it certainly has done so here. 1 sec not only an exact similarity between the criticism, chargcsXand allegations of today and'those of past years, but also the same critics. Let me give you instances. Since New Zealand assumed responsibility ’for the mandate administration, many comparisons have been directly made by some of you gentlemen between the previous German and New Zealand administrations, in praise of the former and to the detriment of the latter. You seem to have forgotten that this same perfect German Government, when- you had it, was apparently so distasteful to you and other citizens of Apia of that day that on February 4, 1910, you addressed a petition-to the High President of the German Parliament in Berlin, expressing yourselves to the . extent of eight and a-half pages of typewritten foolscap. This petition, which covers in almost identical language the same grounds of attack so familiar to us on New Zealand’s administration, was signed by five European residents, and the two signatories of non-German nationality were G. E. L. Westbrook and 0. P. Nelson, who are here today! Why, then, have you gentlemen so persistently endeavoured to glorify the former German administration to the disparagement of New Zealand’s Government, when, on your own testimony, it was subject to the same defects and failings"? Do you think this line of conduct honest and truthful 1 ?” This was"straight from the shoulder, but more was to follow. The Minister; proceeding, said: “Thus does history repeat itself, because every record' of Samoa teiis the same sorry tale of European intrigue and of the unfortunate Samoan natives paying the penalty when the day of reckoning arrived. I give you my word that so far as lies in my power I do not , propose to let history repeat itself in this latter respect. This brings me to'what I regard as the most serious phase of the recent trouble, namely, the deliberate attempt of you members of the European Committee, not only to undermine tile confidence of the Samoan people in the administration of their own legally and pro-perly-constituted native leaders and authorities, but, even worse, to sow r the seeds of discord and disunion amongst the Samoan people. ... I cannot too

strongly condemn such conduct, and 1 am prepared to take the most drastic steps to stop it. 1 speak plainly because I regard ■these efforts to disunite and upset a fine race like the Samoans as nothing less than criminal and deserving only to be dealt with as a crime. When tlie well-being of the physical body is threatened with a sore the surgeon’s knife is used to excise the trouble, and I firmly believe that every rightthinking European in this community and in the’Dominion of New Zealand and elsewhere will whole-heartedly support me in any steps I may deem it necessary to take to remove what might easily become a festering wound on the body politic of Samoa. I will not hesitate to ask Parliament for the widest power to deal with agitators in this territory who attempt to disaffect the native people for theijr own ends.” That the Minister has been as good as his tvord is shoAVn by the Sainocn Amendment Bill, Avhich recently passed the Upper House without a dissentient Amte. The country is to be congratulated on having both a Minister Avho is prepared to hit straight from the shoulder Avhen occasion demands, and an Administrator who is determined to see that the Isav of the land is obeyed.