GERMAN SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 299, 27 January 1910, Page 2

GERMAN SAMOA.

AMERICAN JOURNALIST'S VERSION Auckland, January 24. Mr. A. D. Fail-burn, an American journalist, who arrived by the San Francisco steamer Tymeric, says that, smarting under what they declare unjust and wholly unnecessary taxation, English, American, and many German residents of Gernian Samoa have formed a secret alliance to obtain redress. They declare that the Governor (Dr. Solf) and his council have exercised most arbitrary power, and inflicted burdens on white men tliat have become unbearable Everything is taxed from a scrubbing brush to a buggy and pair. English and American residents produce nearly ai'. the material wealth of the islands, and have absolutely no say in the Government. It is true two Englishmen have seats on the council, which "assists" Governor Solf in the administration of affairs, but their position is' mere empty honor, as they do none of the governing. Despairing of obtaining any consideration at the hands of the local Government, the overburdened taxpayers are seriously contemplating sending a delegation to Berlin, where relief would be sought at the hands of the German Chancellor.

Questioned regarding the feeling of the natives, Mr. Fairbairn said: "The natives are grumbling over the exeess'iv exactions of the Government, and many of them declared in my presence that they would welcome the return of Great Britain to the Islands."