SAMOAN EXILES

Southland Times, Issue 21832, 8 October 1932, Page 6

SAMOAN EXILES

TERM ALMOST UP A LABOUR MEMBER’S PLEA THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 7. The hope that the Government would extend the hand of friendship to the Samoan deportees whose term of exile has almost expired was expressed in the House of Renresentatives to-day by Mr F. W. Schramm, who said that he did not want to use the Samoan question to flog the Government, but was sincerely desirous of seeing the Samoans become the allies and friends of New Zealand instead of bitter enemies as they were at present. The administration of Samoa stands as a blot on New Zealand, declared Mr Schramm. “In spite of the report presented to Parliament the other day informing us that all was going well in Samoa, we know that conditions are far from good. The Hon. O. F. Nelson’s time of exile will be up soon and I want to ask the Government whether it will guarantee to Mr Nelson and others peace and freedom in their native country.

Mr R. A. Wright (C., Wellington Suburbs): If they behave themselves.

Mr Schramm: I would like to know one act done by Mr Nelson which would bring him within the four corners of the law, yet he was exiled without trial. This sort of thing has been going on for many years. The ParkVerschaffett Berentsen report showed wasteful administration, yet nothing was done. The Government of Samoa was supposed by mandate to be carried on for the benefit of Samoans and yet an endeavour has been made to carry it on as a commercial proposition. Criticism was made by Mr Schramm of the military type of administrator sent to Samoa. He suggested that a man with medical and not military qualifications would be a better choice. Some of the Administrators had been splendid gentlemen, but they had a military mind. “Everything possible has been done by the New Zealand administration to put the Samoan people against this country,” said Mr Schramm. “Instead of being happy contented people, willing to work in with us they are dissatisfied and look on our administration as something which they have to suffer, but for which they have no respect. I want the Government to extend the hand of friendship to these exiles and to ask them to do their best in assisting to right the wrongs there. As long as the present situation continues, conditions will go from bad to worse.”