THE SAMOAN DISTURBANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1929, Page 8

THE SAMOAN DISTURBANCE.

The latest news from Western Samoa is very disturbing. It appears obvious that the attempts to win over recalcitrant natives to an acceptance of law and order have been regarded by them as a sign of weakness. Both the local administration and the New Zealand Government have shown patience and sympathy with Samoan aspirations, even though misdirected, and the change of Government in the Dominion has entailed no serious alteration in policy as regards the iuanda|ejl territory. Ihe Administrator (Colonel Allen) has been in personal touch with the Cabinet, trad the fact that he has continued in cilice would seem to indicate that his conduct of affairs was considered to be sound and judicious. Unfortunately, there has been a tendency on the part of the Labour Party to make common cause with the recalcitrant Samoans, and :o assume that they are already fit to be entrusted with the full responsibilities and privileges of Western civilisation. There is unmistakable evidence that this attitude on the part of Labour has not, to put it mildly, made the task of the local administration any easier, and the happenings of last week have proved beyond question that the natives of Western Samoa are not yet to be trusted to recognise all the duties of British citizenship. It is obvious that authority must prevail, and if stern measures are necessary to make this plain to the Samoans it is to be hoped there will be no hesitancy in applying them. Fortunately the Administrator has been in office long enough to have acquired a good deal of local experience, and his advice at the present crisis should be of the greatest value to the Ministry. Meanwhile there will be the utmost sympathy for the officials who have suffered, even unto death, in the performance of their duties.