Loyal Samoan Chiefs Visit N.Z.

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 260, 24 January 1928, Page 1

Loyal Samoan Chiefs Visit N.Z.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REWARD TO SCHOOL TEACHERS WILL SEE DOMINION METHODS Because of their loyalty to the Ajlmi nistration during the recent trouble, the Administrator, Sir George Richardson, has sent two Samoan chiefs to New Zealand to visit schools and educational in* stitutions. The chiefs arrived on the Tofua yesterday afternoon in company with Mr. D. A. J. Rutherford, Superintendent of Schools in Samoa, who is also visiting New Zealand on furlough. Tauaa, one of the chiefs, is the principal native teacher in Samoa, and the other, Karene, is the principal inspector. Both speak fluent English and are dressed in native costume, except that they wear grey flannel coats. They are proof that the native customs in Samoa are not broken down by European educative methods. Up to the present their eyes have been opened, first by the magnitude of Suva, Fiji, on the journey across, and now by Auckland. This is the first time they have been away from their native Samoa. “What a small island ours is,” they remarked, when they landed at Auckland. The two chiefs organise the village schools in the districts of Samoa. They each have 10 to 20 native teachers in their charge and visit the schools regularly. When any weakness is detected an improvement is affected through the medium of refresher courses. During the agitation which culminated in the Royal Commission. the schools experienced a set-back, but it •was only temporary, and now the attendance is greater than ever. Tauaa and Karene hope to see as many New Zealand schools as possib’e during the time they are here. They are particularly interested in the agricultural and technical branches, but will attend to the other branches of education as well.