The Samoa Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 30. THE MANDATE.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 19, Issue 35, 30 August 1919, Page 4

The Samoa Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 30. THE MANDATE.

A great deal of satisfaction must be felt in Samoa at the very optimtistic utterances of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, which were made to representative Pressmen, ou his return to New Zealand from the Peace deliberations in England. We publish the interview in another column. Mr. Massey has cleared the air in a manner which is comforting and he has no doubt that after things settle down the benefit of the Mandate will be appreciated by both New Zealand and Samoa. The Auckland " Star " has taken up a very decided stand on the Mandate and is ver\' doubtful as to New Zealand's ability to undertake such a responsibility and even goes so far as to suggest that Samoa will prove a heavy burden to the New Zealand taxpayers. The best answer to that assumption is supplied by Mr, Massey to the effect that the revenue of Samoa for a good number of years past has exceeded the expenditure. The great problem to' be settled here is undoubtedly the labour question and on its solution depends the success of the future Government of Samoa. We must have labour quickly and it must be imported. We would like to draw attention to the 30,000 acres of fully bearing copra plantations, under recent German control, and now supervised by the present Administration. We would like to see these plantations cut up and allocated in such a way as to induce settlers of a robust type, and with a knowledge of tropical "agricultural * work. Were such a scheme evolved it would go far to settle the labour problem of Samoa, Far be it that these recently owned German plantations shoul d

revert to their old monopolistic character, and it would be quite safe to assume that such plantations will never again operate in the same manner as before the war. Possibly steps in this direction have already been taken. At any rate the labour solution is receiving most urgent attention. It is a matter that requires exacting deliberation and we have no doubt that the New Zealand Government, with the assistance of the local Administration, will work out a policy satisfactory to all concerned; As for Samoa being a drag on New Zealand, we do not side with those who think so. Quite "the contrary. The portents for Samoa in spite oi the non-solution of the labour problem up to the present, is decidedly lull of promise. The keen competition for our products, copra and cocoa, bids fair to become even keener, and with the advent of a new labour policy, there is no reason why Samoa, with its wonderfully fertile soil — the possibilities of which have never been thoroughly tested and which calls for the urgent attention of a highly qualified agricultural expert should net blossom with prosperity. The statement made by Mr. Massey that the transfer of Samoa to New Zealand's control will be of mutual advantage, is one we believe will prove substantially true.