THE OLD STORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20183, 27 June 1928, Page 7

THE OLD STORY

BROKEN PROMISES ’ Labour Leader Talks on Samoa to Maori Audience THE RECENT TROUBLES. [ Per Preus Association. J HASTINGS, June 26. A .large gathering of Maoris met Mr H. E. Holland at Omahu this afternoon, at the first meeting in the district called to meet a Leader of the Opposition. A welcome was extended by two chiefs. After outlining the outcome of the Labour Conference of 1921 and declaring that he ihought the Government was not paying enough attention to the compilation uf Maori records, Mr Holland devoted an address to the bamoan question. He briefly outlined the changes of administration prior to Samoa being handed over to New Zealand, and then criticised General Richardson’s administration.

Mr Holland stated that the people were angry because the Government allowed influenza-stricken ships in 1918 to leave New Zealand shores to visit Western Samoa, where he said 25 per cent, of the native population died. This was followed by General Richardson’s administration, lanishing chiefs, taking away tribal customs and generally breaking promises until the natives were incensed. He compared the justice meted out to the Samoans and to tho Maoris, rnd gave instances of where, he contended, a miscarriage of justice had taken place in Samoa. “The Coates Government administration has violated all the principles of Magna Charta, held so dearly by the British people,” he said. It was unfortunate that with .he exception of one speech by Sir Maui Pomarc, no Maori in Parliament had stood with the Labour Party in support of the Samoans. If the Labour Party went into power it would meet tho Samoans on the basis of conciliation and justice, and let them know that they wojld be given the right to take a part in the government of their own country. Every promise made by any previous Government would be honoured to th<* full and European ar.d Samoan would be given fair trial ns Maori and pakeha were given in New Zealand. Procedure along these lines would make the administration a credit to New Zealand and satisfactory to the Samoans. If administration could not be carried out without violence, then it would be better to hand Samoa back to the League of Nations.