THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Tuesday, March 9, 1909. AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12483, 9 March 1909, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Tuesday, March 9, 1909. AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

There seem to be conflicting opinions as". to the seriousness of the present situation in Samoa, arising from the relations existing between the Governor, Dr-^SoK , and the natives. A recent passenger from Samoa told an Auckland contemporary that there would only, be a devastating war if Governor Solf undertakes to rule, with German warships to back him. It would be singular, he added, to find Germany located in the midst of prosperous British and American colonies, struggling with warships to * * make terms and maintain her 'rule.' Most of the: present trouble can be traced to the native orator Lauati, who when questioned about his large followihg on his. arrival at Apia recently/ "told tlie Governor that the people were liis friends, and without: hostile intent. He was told to send them back .to Savaii, and it -was suggested that he should ask for a permit for-himself ' to retire to Tonga. - His people would not hear of this, and would not. return to Savaii until the Governor had sworn upon the Bible that be had nothing against Lauati, and he was free from blame. Lauati has", since had several interviews, with Governoi Solf. Our northern contemporary, the "Herald," was told "that quite a- number of whites have beon up and seriously -question-" ed, ■ even charged with sedition. One man was gravely" charged with liaving dropped the remark to a single native that the Government treasury was like a leaky, bucket*—^it* was always empty. He denied the charge and the; matter ended. A German commercial traveller was charged . with having said that three German warships were soon to, arrive, and that. Mrs Solf was going home on account af native troubles. TJiis was regarded as seditiqus r ... He. denied j . having mentioned J_[rs7Solf, and said ; lie hajJ merely inquired of an official if a rumour going about town was true, that three warships, were to come. ..'Other Gorman residents were seriously questioned about these trifling- rumours, and one announced that the Gover ; nor's-cook had told him, and that the' cook had it from the housemaid, who had the story from Mrs , Solf herself. The seditionists were thus : acquitted, : A more, hopeful view was taken by Mi V. "Ha"rinan,"the manager of companies owning valuable interests- -in Samoa, who is now on a holiday visit to Auckland. When he left Samoa, 011 Feb ruary 15th, the trouble, had .quietenec" down, ancl though there. were gatherings of natives, and some little excitement, these were not in any way z protest against German rule. Tin. native trouble, said Mr - Harinan. arose principally from the fact thai the Samo'ans are very fond of intriguing and of fighting. The chief boni of contention has always been the question of the succession to the kingship. Now, of course, there is no longer any king, but there is a good deal of intrigue on the part of the "talking men." 'Their aim is to gel power over the chiefs, who are . the titular heads. The natives are ruled by a very excellent system of loca? government, strictly controlled by tht State Government, but to a great extent through the chiefs. Tbere are native heads of districts and native judges to deal with petty affairs. Thest so called "talking men" have always been jealous of "■ the "^power of the chiefs, and some of them have lately wanted to set up a kind of parliament (a sort of home rule business). Thej asserted their right aijd came to the Government in considerable numbers, to claim it. It was purely a native affair, and to this claim they added a number of complaints, which were mainly without foundation. For instance, they wanted information as to where the money went which they paid in taxes*; as to how- much the Government officials were paid ; how many holidays they had; and so on. These matters really did not interest them much," but they had to have something to tack 011 to. "their grievances. As a matter of fact, Samoan natives are very lightly taxed . compared with. the natives of other parts; They pay from Ss to 12s per head^per year, according to their, positions. In Fiji the natives pay £1 per head taxation, and .the Tongan natives.pay, directly and 'indirectly,, at least £2 per head. These people -who have been causing the trouble %*re. in a minority. It is a strong minority certainly, and it is led by some extraordinarily clev ci* natives. Lauati, in particular, is a- man of great influentee among Samoa'ns, and a great orator. He took a leading part in the late.'war, and had always been rather "troublesome, but a large majority of the natives support the chiefs and consequently the present form of 'government." The matter had reached a- head before Dr Solf returned from Europe, but as soon as he grasped the situation his influence over the natives enabled him to settle the matter without any serious measures. Had the Governor been a man of less tact and courage there might have been serious trouble, but 4- as matters .'... are .Mr Mr Harman sees no cause for uneasiness. The- British and German residents, he added, live.on good terms with each ether, and the former have no complaint against r the German government.