IMPROVEMENT AT SAMOA

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1928, Page 11

IMPROVEMENT AT SAMOA

MAU INFLUENCE STILL FELT ADMINISTRATION GETTING A GRIP. taxes not yet being paid. (By Wire —Special io News.) Auckland, Last Night. The incident of May 26 in Samoa, when a detachment of military police went out to arrest the Chief Leota, was spoken of by some of the passengers who arrived in Auckland by the Tofua to-day. They said a# far as they could gather, th© action of the police was not extreme and that it was intended mainly to have a salutary effect. It ‘was true, they said, that rifles had been earned and bayonets used, but not to any great extent. Since the affair the excitement had subsided and it was now regarded more or less as a “nine days’ wonder.” According to those who have been in Samoa, the new Administrator, Colonel S. S. Allen, has made a good impression among the natives as well as with the white residents. He is a man of silent action and few words, but it is felt he has already gained a grasp of affairs in the mandated territory. The mau (native) “police” are still very much in evidence .with their picturesque uniforms, and they seem to be concerning themselves as much as ever w-ith ,:;e settlement. It is also understood the natives are still refusing to comply with orders to pay taxes. It is said the campaign of boycotting stores dealing in New Zealand goods has entirely disappeared. In general a more settled future is predicted for Samoa. “The best sight I ever saw in my life was old Rangitoto showing up to-day through the rain,” said one of the Auckland police who returned from Samoa to-day. Some time ago six young Auckland constables went to Samoa to keep law and order in that unrestful country and three of them have now returned, coming back by the Tofua this afternoon. The Auckland constables said they could not talk of the official side of their visit, but of the personal side and social side they said quite a lot. “It’s a great place, but it h a rotten climate and centipedes a foot long,” said one of the constables. "Give me Auckland every time. “Plenty of spprt down there,” he added. “The football season is just over; we had a few games and I can tell you they play better football than you see in Auckland.”