The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1927. SMITING THE PHILISTINES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 89, 6 July 1927, Page 8

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1927. SMITING THE PHILISTINES

THERE are two sides to every grievance, and that of the Minister of External Affairs concerning the restive discontent in the mandated territory of Western Samoa is certainly much more convincing at the moment than the other side of the agitation. The Hon. W. Nosworthy is to be commended for the forthright manner in which he has broken administrative silence about the trouble and, following on his return from a trip to the island, disclosed the facts as seen from the official point of view. It may be said, too, with the frankness practised fend appreciated by the Minister himself that his plain statement about and against a clique of agitators - in Samoa almost completely dispels the unkind idea among politicians and many others that the bestowal of the portfolio on him was an administrative joke. Without any palaver of diplomatic argument, but yet with an edge to politeness so that it would cut deeply, Mr. Nosworthy told the agitators in the territory face to face, that he did not intend to let history repeat itself in the direction of stirring the native population to serious unrest for the purpose of advancing the commercial aims, of a selfish group. Such was the meaning, if not exactly the phrasing, of his downright talk to the malcontents. Perhaps the only opportunity he gave his abashed audience for a smile that would not be wry was in his declamation that it would be through and by the policy of the New Zealand Government only tha,t the natives would be taught the principles and arts of government. Tuition in these is as necessary in Parliament at Wellington as it appeal’s to be in Western Samoa. In all other respects the Minister submitted in support of the Government’s policy a firm case that cannot be assailed easily or without an overwhelming mass of evidence in proof of the alleged defects of Samoan administration. Moreover, everybody with a clear understanding of the responsibility involved in New Zealand’s acceptance of an international mandate to govern Western Samoa as a high trust and not as a reward of conquest, will support the Minister of External Aft'airs and those associated with him in his declared determination to clear the territory of perilous stuff to deal rigorously with mischiefmakers whose interests are nearer to profitable exploitation of the simple natives than to true patriotism. But it should not be overlooked that there may be danger in making correction too ruthless. It is not pleasant to learn that a part of the grievance is similar to that uttered so vehemently against German control in the bad old days. Is it wise, for example, to talk so harshly about depriving chiefs of their titles and banishing them from their tribal homes to other parts of the territory . The wiser policy would seem to be banishment of the shrewd profit-seekers who disaffeet the natives. It would be foolish of course, to take Mr. Nos worthy’s admirable statement as the last word on the discontent. In the meantime, however, his banners only are flying.

“NO CONCERN OF THE PUBLIC ”

THE airy manner in which Mr. Vivian Potter, M.P., dismisses an attempt to gain some information from him regarding his dispute with the Prime Minister is amusing. Having privately healed his breach with Mr. Coates, Mr. Potter says, “ The past is no concern of the public; the future is.” The public has a love of history, though—as Mr. Potter ought to know from some of his electioneering meetings—and even if the language in which it is told to mind its own business is ever so polite, it will most decidedly remain of the opinion that its business is to know what happens in the political jugglery of the men it sends to Parliament. It will be noted that Mr. Harris, M.P., has not yet been rehabilitated in the snowy garihents of party grace. While he is out of the fold, an impenitent outcast, can all be well with the Government—can the sweet stream of political concord flow without interruption? And there is Mr. Glenn, who has resigned the position of Junior Government Whip “in order, to obtain more freedom.” Is it possible that freedom is denied in the ranks of Reform? Can the shackles be where the independent heel of a Potter treads once again? Not if the political veracity of the Member for Roskill is unimpeachable. And Mr. Potter says it is. Then there are the Nationals. There is a “split” in their small party. Some of them are suspected of leaning to the New Liberalism of Mr. Veitch, who is zealously seeking converts. Even the Labour Party is said to be on the verge of disruption—some of the latest recruits are deemed to have designs on the office of Leader of the Opposition. There is only one party united and indivisable; that is the old Liberal Party—consisting of Sir Joseph Ward—and this Joseph has not a coat of many colours.

PUBLISHING “TOTE” DIVIDENDS

IF ever there was a hypocritical law, it is that which prohibits the publication by the newspapers of totalisator dividends. If ever there was official humbug, it is that which refuses to broadcast the knowledge in print and permits it to be telegraphed to hundreds of people, including bookmakers, in every part of the country, for second-hand distribution. Within a few minutes of any race on which there is betting, the dividends paid to first and second horses may be known by every man who lias made a bet. The State refuses to encourage the “immorality of betting, and so it will not allow the newspapers to publish dividends. Yet it takes heavy toll of the totalisator investments by taxation, and itself publishes the dividends through the telegraph office so as to obtain revenue with which to recoup what it loses in totalisator percentage through the operations of the bookmaker. Parliament will be asked to consider this question shortly when the bill to amend the Gaming Act is brought forward. It will then be able to decide whether the Government is to he decentlv honest or persevere in a policv of bnmbltg.