PROGRESS IN SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1930, Page 8

PROGRESS IN SAMOA.

Th.e annual repoi't of the Administrator of Western Samoa, Colonel S. S. Allen, is distinctly cheering. Conditions in the mandated territory have considerably improved since the tragic happenings of last December, and there is reason to hope that full co-operation between Samoans and Europeans in the govern ment of the country will be brought about before long. The organisation known as the Mau, which was set up as a challenge to European authority, is steadily losing its power amongst the natives, and the formation of a woman's branch of the Mau has, says the Administrator, done a good deal towards bringing the movement into contempt. The most hopeful sign is that some of the leaders of the Mau are now eo-operating with the Administration and are being treated with the fullest sympathy by European officials. Regrettable though the loss of life in the December riot was, it seems to have conveyed the lesson to the Samoans that there was a limit to the patience of the Government, a lesson that has before been found necessary in dealing with native races that have come under British supervision. Nevertheless the Samoan has been shown also that within that limit the Administration is prepared to admit his right to a share in the government of his country, and welcomes his co-operation. Colonel Allen points out that there may still occur isolated cases of defiance of authority, which may be troublesome, but he is satisfied that the ordinary police force will be able to keep the peace, and that as the Samoans more fully realise the desire of the Government to share with them the problems that confront the country the tendency towards revolt or misunderstanding will be considerably reduced. A very hopeful sign is the report upon the territory’s schools, The desire for education is keen, and the work of the native teachers is quite promising, according to the report of the inspector sent from this country. Discipline is excellent, and the keenest desire to learn the English language is in evidence. The effect of the schools is wholly for good, and should do mueh to prevent misunderstanding between the European and Samoan of the gen-

eration that is growing up. As an indication of the Government’s desire that Samoa shall be administered for the benefit of Samoans, the number of elected European representatives in the Legislative Council has been reduced from three to two, making the European equal with the Samoan elective representation. The two native members now serving have been nominated, but it is hoped that before long the elective system will operate, and that it will be possible to re-introduce the conferences of native chiefs to advise the Administration from the Samoan viewpoint. It looks as though firmness, patience and goodwill will succeed in Samoa, but the patience must be exercised in New Zealand as well as in the mandated territorv.