THIRD EDITION. AT APIA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17058, 12 June 1926, Page 15

THIRD EDITION. AT APIA.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECU

MANDATED TERRITORY OBLIGATIONS.

BRITAIN'S RECORD OF HONOR

(,I'er Press Association.; WELLINGTON, this day

Following is a resume of the speech made by the Governor-General at the citizens’ gathering of welcome at Apia.

His Excellency expressed appreciation of the welcome accorded himself and party. He referred to Ihe responsibility of administering mandated territory. "It is not always ivmomheivd," he said, "that there is a distinction between such task and that of adrninisiering an oi binary dependency of the Empire. In the latter we are responsible to ourselves; in the former our honor is atstake. It is a trust, and our duty is to administer it in, the interests of the people to whom the country belongs and lit them, as far as may be, for selfgovernment. West Samoa is not an integral part of the British Empire, but a child of which we have assumed guardianship. It is the boast, and pride of the British race that, we realise such responsibilities. Our records in colonisation are unchallenged, and our dealings with native races have been marked by fair, honest dealing, and by Ihe most scrupulous respect of religious and racial interests. HOW BRITAIN STANDS.

“We have not held India and its countless millions by force of arms. Our administration of Egypt and the Sudan will stand the- verdict- of posterity. The administration of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa is oil a different fool - ing from any oilier Risk that we have ever attempted, and we may he sure tlial criticism will he searching. For these reasons the Government, is hound, to consider everything from one single point of view—that of the ultimate benefit of the Samoan people, and not from the point- of view of our national interests. Still less can personal or private interests bo allowed to weigh in the scale. That, does not mean that The administration will not give full and impartial consideration to all, of whatever race they may be, who have interests in the islands, but it does mean that where interests conflict, as in some cases it is inevitable that they must- do, then the deciding factor is consideration for the interests and good of the Samoan people. The responsibility rests not on the administration alone, but on every individual of I lie community, and it is the bounden duty of all to support the administrator in his policy, which, under the Government of New Zealand, if is his duty to carry out. and in the steps which he takes to enforce it.” EFFIENCY OF OFFICIALS.

His -Excellency then referred to the efficiency of public officials as testified to by the Administrator in liis reports, and ns borne out by the evidence of progress made in recent years. He illustrated this by reference to the increase in the native population, to the advance in hygiene and sanitation, in education, and the development-of communications, public works and trade; in the evidence of fife increasing confidence and co-opera-tion of Hie natives, and in the wonderful increase in savings hank deposits. A NOBLE WORE.

“Empire building,”' he said, “is noble work, hut m some respects this work in which you are all engaged, is even greater, It calls for more self-sacrifice, more disinterested labor, for a greater sense of responsibility. It is a great thing to develop llie enimtry in our own interests, but- il takes higher qualifies to do so in the interests Of fit hers. Of what you have done and aie doing you may he well proud, for you are building up an edifice, which will be a, lasting monument- to Rrilish rule and traditions.”

He lioped his visit might be an encouragement in showing that their labors were watched and appreciated. A message from IBs Majesty the King to the Governor-General on the occasion of their Excellency's visit to Western Samoa states: “His Majesty lire ■King desires on tile occasion of tile visit of the Governor-General of New Zealand to Western Samoa to convey his greetings to nil the people of the territory, and to express ins pleasure at their continued progress and prosperity. THE KING GRATIFIED. “His Majesty has been much gratified by'the many expressions given by the Samoan people, through their faipules of their trust and confidence in .the administration of their affairs by his Government of New Zealand, and he has recently learned with high appreciation of the action of tile high chiefs in presenting to the Governor-General their ancient symbols of authority and power.”