BRIG.-GENERAL HART

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 3 November 1933, Page 4

BRIG.-GENERAL HART

WORK IN SAMOA GAINING NATIVES’ FAVOR w The opinion that'Brigadier-General HK. Hart, the present' Administrator, for New Zealand in Samoa, has made a great many improvements and is gaining the favor of the natives in spite of difficulties, was expressed by Mr. Mark T. Green, an American journalist who has spent the last 15 weeks in the mandated territory for the purpose of studying conditions there. Mr. Green criticised the policy of the New Zealand Government in the past, and expressed the view that the Samoans required to be dealt with firmly. Seated in his cabin on the Maui Pornare shortly before that ship sailed for Wellington from Lyttelton, tho American visitor; discussed briefly with a Sun reporter the impressions, lie had gainedof the administration of Samoa. The present economic position is being felt severely in Samoa, he said, and the fall in the price of copra has not improved matters: _ ■ ■ Tho opposition to the Government of Mr. O. F. Nelson, the leader of the natives, was the cause of a great doe l of annoyance to the Government. Because of his deportation some years ago, Nelson entertained very bitter feelings toward the Government, and Mr. Green considered that he was the cause of much bitter feeling against New Zealand. Many natives were of the opinion that if they held out long enough against the Government they would be granted some - form of independent government, or New Zealand would be forcei-to relinquish the mandate. The New Zealand Government in the past had pursued a mistaken policy, inasmuch as it had been weak when it should hav'e been strong. The Samoans required to be dealt with firmly. Previous Administrators, Mr. Green considered, had made a great many mistakes, but General Hart, the present Administrator, had improved things a, great deal and was gaining the favor of the natives. He was by far the best Administrator that Samoa had had, and his work was being done in face of the difficulties. . „