The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA.” MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1920. "OUR TASK IN THE PACIFIC.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17936, 2 August 1920, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA.” MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1920. "OUR TASK IN THE PACIFIC.

In view of the unreasoning attitude taken by a small minor! tj of our political representatives concerning ' the means necessary for New Zealand’s proper administration of her i Samoan mandate, the tacts disclosed I by Mr. C. Brunsdon Fletcher in his (latest work, “Stevenson’s Germany,” make interesting and instructive reading. In this work the author continues and concludes the argument against Germany in the Pacific which he skilfully sustained in his ( previous volumes, “The New Pacific” 1 and “The Problems of the Pacific.” i While this latest volume has great (historical and polemical value, it (has the added interest of vividly preI senting the story ot' Robert Louis Stevenson’s resistance to German injustice in Samoa. The theme of tho book is that Germany has been a bad neighbour everywhere, and that the South Seas are specially rich in revelations of her treachery and cruelty. Germany entered the Pacific as a pedlar, not afe a pioneer. She succeeded -with her intrigue (chiefly because of the other Powers’ indifference. At home it was not even permitted to speak disrespeoifully of Germany. Stevenson stood up to her and scored against her. His "Footnote to History” was hardly read at the time. The war has given it a new value. His story of Germany’s doings in the Pacific was a flash of lightning, but it was too illuminating for European readers. Germany did little exploration; she took advantage of the work of other nations; she was prompt to play cuckoo wherever possible. Numerous proof instances are furnished. The methods of the notorious Godeffroy firm are exposed. Their schooners were put. in commission to kill competition; their traders were instructed lo undersell and to drive out rivals at any cost. The history of Samoa has been for years a tragedy, with Germany as chief mischief maker. Moral considerations had no weight with her, yet on the moral side she was indebted to men like Ciialmers, Stevenson, Brown and Macgregor. Missionary work in the Pacific made possible German trade. Yet the GodeiTroj* agents were ordered to obstruct missionaries at all points. Glowing tribute is paid to Sir William Macgregor’s wonderful administrative ability. Under Britain mistakes have been made; the official mind has tended to paralyse enterprise. ' But where officials have not been afraid to cut red tape there have been marvellous results. Germany, on the other hand, lied and prevaricated her way ilt; she extended and strengthened her hold by keeping the,natives in fetters. It was on their behalf that Steven-

I son wrote his “ Footnote.” He did i not like his job, but he had to deliver his soul. No missionary as such could have stood up against Germany and Britain with any hope of sucess. Stevenson did, and he roused Britain sufficiently to stay hostile action. The efficiency of Germany's late possessions has been used as an argument in favour of their return. This ignores the fact Jhat Germany was developing these possessions as points for aggression iin the expected war. German efficiency cannot compensate for Germany’s lack of human sympathy. The natives are fellow beings living in a part of the world which, for them, seems turned upside down. To flog them simply because they prefer their own way of life is to deny the fundamental principles of Christianity. Germany in the Pacific has been no different from the Germany revealed in the wreckage of Belgium. Naturally, then, she could not be further trusted ini the Pacific. Our appointed task has not been rendered easier by what has gone before. The native races are not increasing as they should; if the cost ot the war is to be met the tropics must be developed. But Fijians and I Samoans will not work; to force theiT labour or to tax them for public works which they cannot appreciate is repugnant to all ideas of British justice. The people of the United States are watching our treatment of these subjects with deep interest. A stage has been reached at which the natives may be rapidly pushed forward; the alternative seems to be stagnation and death. At the same time, for the sake of the natives and of the Empire as a whole, the natural resources of the I islands must be safeguarded. And here it is that the labour problem comes in; Dr. Guy Scholefield, in the course of a lecture delivered in Dunedin last weejj, virtually endorsed the Government’s policy when he suggested as a solution of the Samoan difficulty temporary utilisation of imported Chinese labour and the application of economic pressure, education and care of the natives to enable them to eventually work Samoa efficiently With their own labour. The problem, he said, was quite a clear-cut one. Cocoanuts were the consols of the Pacific, and with the growing demand for copra it was impossible that the great, resources in the Pacific should remain untouched. The islands north of the Equator would become populated and developed by Japanese workers, and the actual frontiers of Japan would be brought to the Equator to meet New Zealand’s in Samoa, Rarotonga and Fiji. It was becoming more and more difficult to maintain the barriers against the economic tide. The problem could only be solved, if at all, by providing in the empty lands some supply of labour, acceptable to New Zealand, which would neutralise the trend of labour from the Far East. The native population must be inI creased, and the first essential step was careful attention to the health of the native. Technical education must be provided to enable the native to cultivate his plantations, and civilisation must be implanted to ; raise the standard of living and i work. While believing that im- ( ported labour was for the time being : necessary in Samoa, Dr. Scholefield j said he did not regard it as unduly optimistic to believe that if the native race was properly fostered and educated it would be possible to avoid bringing in any Asiatics as permanent residents, at any rate in the islands south of the Equator.