MISSION TO SAMOA

Southland Times, Issue 22917, 16 June 1936, Page 6

MISSION TO SAMOA

GOODWILL TO BE CONVEYED A DESIRE TO AVOID CONFLICT DELEGATION LEAVES TO-DAY (From Our Parliametary Reporter.) Wellington. June 15. “It is purely a goodwill mission to hold out the hand of cordial friendship to the people of Samoa,” said the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) who, with Mr J. O’Brien, _ M.P. for Westland, will leave Wellington tomorrow afternoon for Western Samoa as a delegation from the New Zealand Government. The mandated territory of Western Samoa was handed over to New Zealand as a sacred trust, and the good name of our country and of its people is involved in its administration,” Mr Langstone said. “Naturally, _ we are anxious that any administration under our jurisdiction should rank high in the councils of the nations and that it should be well received by the League of Nations, which, ultimately, is responsible for the mandate. From this distance, as I understand the position, there is no economic problem there. The problem seems to be mainly psychological. In an age-long struggle it has been characteristic of Samoan chieftains, by birth, oratory and popularity, to lay claim to the leadership of the people. This, in the past, led to much wrangling, and even to fighting. In more recent times the system known as the Mau has developed, and for various reasons its attention has been centred on the administration. This has led to tribal differences being forgotten, and to unification io a greater or less extent of those activities as opposition to our administration.” No Economic Problem. “As I have stated,” said Mr Langstone, “there is no economic problem in Samoa. The land is very fertile, there is a population of less, than 60,000 scattered over the various islands, the food supply is plentiful, and, in the main, the Samoans are highly, intelligent and lovable people. Possibly the urge to impose western ideals and conditions too hastily on them has been the underlying cause of some of the friction. The reason why the Prime Minister is sending a goodwill delegation to the Samoans is that we should be able to understand and grasp the Samoan mind. It will be a difficult thing to do in such a short period. However, that is the purpose of our visit, so that in administering the mandate there will be a person closely allied to the Government of New Zealand, who will be able to advise and assist in making known the requirements of Samoans and interpreting their point of view ,s fast as possible. We want to avoid the conflicts and antagonisms which have arisen in the past and which F»ve resulted in much heartburning, Doth among the Samoans and in New Zealand. It is not our intention to open up the old wounds of the past. Rather, we ask the Samoans to endeavour to forget previous disturbances and to see if it is not possible to enter into a new era of administration under the Labour Government. Unnecessary Restrictions. “There may be many minor issues, which to the Samoans may be of great importance, and which will eed investigation and rectifying. As far as is humanly possible, every effort will be made to eliminate any unnecessary ordinances and restrictions which may be considered to be inimical to the general good conduct of the Samoan peoples. The New Zealand Government and the people of the Dominion do not ask the Samoans for anything. Rather we would give something to them than tak? anything away. We are not wishing to exploit the Samoans in any way. It is our sincere intention to use every means in our power to lead them along the pathway of wisdom and commonsense so that ultimately they will have a full understanding of the meaning of the mandate as related to world affairs, and shape their destiny accordingly. We trust that our mission will serve its purpose, and that as a result of our visit and of the many conferences which are bound to be held during our stay in Samoa, there will be a better and happier feeling towards the Administration and the Government of New Zealand, and greater understanding of th'. aims and objects of our administering this trust, which has been handed to us through the King.” Accompanying the delegation will be Mrs Langstone, Mrs O’Brien, Mr A. W. Mulligan, private secretary to the Minister. who will act in a r .cretarial capacity to the delegation, Mrs Mulligan and Mr T. F. Reilly, who will represent the United Press Association.