SAMOAN PEACE

Southland Times, Issue 20208, 20 June 1927, Page 8

SAMOAN PEACE

AGITATORS AT WORK ATTACK ON ADMINISTRATION WARNING FROM GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Suva, June 19. The Hon. W. Nosworthy is a through passenger by the Ventura for Sydney, en route to Auckland. Interviewed here, he said he met six European delegates from the Citizens’ Committee, six native chiefs, and about 1000 natives at Apia. He referred to the petition to the High President of the German Parliament in Berlin in 1910, and said it covered almost the identical language and same grounds as the present attack on the administration. The signatures included two of the present delegation. Mr Nosworthy said he had received a petition from the Faipules favouring the present administration and good works done, and asking that certain Europeans endeavouring to foment dissatisfaction be made to cease interference with the King’s birthday celebrations which had been organised by agitators. Mr Nosworthy condemned the action and said he was prepared to take drastic steps to stop the agitation. He was satisfied that the present administration was in the best interests of all. The agitation was not prompted by any regard for the real interests of the natives. Any success had been due to misrepresentation and efforts to disunite and upset a fine race like the Samoans was criminal and deserved to be treated as a crime. The New Zealand Government accepted the mandate as a sacred trust. The Planters’ Association had assured him it had dissociated itself from the Citizens’ Committee. Mr Nosworthy told Mr Nelson, one of the deputation, that if there was further agitation the Citizens’ Committee would be held directly responsible. He would give a reasonable and fair time for them to undo the trouble. He was not going to have wool pulled over his eyes. He was giving the committee a first and last reasonable chance to undo the intrigue. Further action was threatened.

Mr Nosworthy later received a radio from the Premier of Samoa: “Immigration order amended to enable Administrator of Samoa as directed by the Governor to order any person to leave Samoa if the administration was satisfied the person was disloyal or likely to be a source of danger to peace, order and good government of the territory.”

Messrs Nosworthy and Gray were entertained at luncheon by the Suva Chamber of Commerce. The guests included the Governor, Chief Justice,, Joseph Carruthers and Mr R. A. Farrar (New South Wales). —A. and N.Z.