THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN SAMOA

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 239, 10 May 1933, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN SAMOA

A WELCOME AT APIA LOYAL AND FRIENDLY RECEPTION GOOD ADVICE TO LEADERS (By United*Press Association's Special Representative.) APIA (Samoa), April 20. A CORDIAL RECEPTION awaited their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Blechstoe when they landed at Apia from H.M.3. Diomede on Wednesday, April 19. The town had been decorateti on a lavish scale, several arches having been erected, while streamers of flag? and bunting hung from the great majority of the buildings. The tropical foliage of Samoa is extremely helpful m achieving decorative ejects, and naturally it was freely and artisbcplty used. Hhimmatums were the order at night, the Clock Tower on the sea front, the arches, and some of the principal buddings being festooned with chains of electric lights.

Their Excellencies landed about 10.15 a.in., and wove, received on the wharf by the Administrator, General Hart, and Mrs. Hart. Members of the Legislative Council, public officials, returned soldiers, and representative citizens were present, and a cordial note was struck which was sustained throughout the duration of the visit. Most prominent among the welcoming crowd were the school children, European and Samoan, who made picturesque groups in their respective school uniforms, it was unfortunate that just as Their Excellencies landed rain began to fall, and the ceremony was completed to the accompaniment of a tropical downpour. However, rain in Samoa is regarded with calm philosophy. The Europeans guard themselves with umbrellas, and the Samoans did not wear enough to worry over getting wet. Their Excellencies walked along between the lines of the, cheering school children, and agreed that, the heartiness of the reception compensated for the moistness of the day. The principal ceremony of the day was held at Mullinu’u, some little distance. from Apia, an important centre for Samoan gatherings. Here there is a handsome fono or meeting house, as well as a number of building used by the Administration. Their Excellencies were guests at. a king kava ceremony in the fono house. This was an occasion of great importance, as thfi ceremony is reserved for kings and the representatives of kings. Later there was a Samoan reception and entertainment, contributed by representatives from villages in Suvaii and IT polo, the two islands of Western Samoa under the New Zealand mandate. The dancers and singers appeared in their picturesque native costumes ,and for some hours kept theii visitors interested and entertained with their peculiar folklore. Dancing and singing appear to be the national sports of the Samoans. They do both well, and never tire in their efforts to entertain their guests and ainuse themselves. There was a attendance of Samoans, and the European population was almost unanimously present. The Governor-General, in an address to the Samoans, thanked them for their hearty and friendly welcome. He said it had long been his desire to visit Samoa to see the results of the work which had been done by the present Administrator and his predecessors, and to have the pleasure of actually mooting and spooning to the chiefs and representative people of Samoa. The prosperity of Samoa and the happiness of its people were ns .important to the King as wore those of any of his more extensive and important Dominions. His Majesty had sent the following special message to the people of Western Samoa:

“1 am glad to he able to take the; opportunity afforded by the visit of the Governor-General of New Zealand to Western Samoa to send to the people of the territory my best wishes for tbeir prosperity and happiness. I have received with sat infection reports of their continued progress, and derive to assure them of my personal interest in^ their socia! and economic welfare.” His Excellency continued that he was glad that the visit had been made in one of the King’s ships because visits of such ships from time to time were the sure proof of the safety of the country. They showed the ability of the British Empire and the League of Nations to protect them, and to preserve them against any repetition of those times of trouble and disturbance which had existed in Samoa for so many years in days gone by. “For any country to be happy and prosperous,” added His Excellency, “it is necessary that its .people should be contented and live in harmony one with another. There can be no real happiness, and no real prosperity, where village is contending against village, family against family, chief against, chief. and brother against brother. The History of Samoa in the pact has often been one of contending factions, which have prevented the steady advancement of the country, and have wasted its strength. I exhort you yourselves, with all the influence that you possess, to do all in your power to restore and maintain complete harmony and mutual trustfulness among your people.” His Excellency said he had heard with great pleasure of the work which the doctors had been doing in their fight against yaws, and he trusted that, the disease would he driven out altogether. The hospitals we.rh evidently doing good work —a fact, which v.'as madi: dmor by the continuous and rapid increase in the population of Samoa ns well as by improving health. Several of their own Samoan people had been trained, and were being trained, at Suva as doctors, and were working usefully amongst them. He hoped also to visit some of the schools, and he learned with pleasure the progress the boys and girls were making in their school work. He trusted that religion continued to flourish, and that the various Christian denominations were working in harmony and sympathy to promote the knowledge of the true God.

The low prices which prevailed lor Samoan products were common to the whole world, and could only he remedied when the statesmen of the I great ant) highly-populated nations came together, and in the interests, of humanity at large, made arrangements for the hotter distribution of

the world’s products and a simpler method of exchanging one for the other. This was about to happen during the next few mouths, and seemed likely (.0 result in a milch mure cheerful ouliook for all those countries whose prosperity depended upon Hie export to other countries of the produce of the land. Fortunately, Samoans lived in a land of plenty, where Nature had provided for all the wants of its inhabitants.

His Excellency concluded: “Finally 1 wish to give a few words of counsel and advice to those of you who are the principal chiefs and officials of Samoa. To you is committed the Government, either of the country or of your districts or villages or families, according to your respective ranks and positions. Bo careful always to use your own position and influence tor the good of the country. The lesser chiefs and the younger men will often copy your methods and he influenced by your motives and ideals. See therefore that, you always set them, a good example, so that they in turn may he worthy to take their place in the life of Samoa, and that they may be good men. At all times ho loyal to the Government, help and support the Administrator and officials, and in all things seek the welfare of your country and its people. Go uol lot any jealousy or envy or unwoitlij personal ambition prevent you tioiu taking a useful and honourable part in all the work of the Government, but help your country and your fellow countrymen in every way that you can without thinking of any reward for yourselves, but only ol: the piosperity and happiness of Samoa. As you now experience the blessings of Christian teaching, so also try to set an example Worthy of your religion, which lays down for your guidance rules of honesty and uprightness which you 1 should steadfastly endeavour to follow.” His Excellency’s address was interpreted to the Samoans by an interpreter. It was received with every indication of satisfaction, as indeed were all his public utterances during his stay in the Islands.