AN ISLANDS TRIP.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 June 1930, Page 4

AN ISLANDS TRIP.

SAMOANS’ FRIENDLY ATTITUDE.

OBSERVATIONS BY MR BURRIDGE.

Mr R. R. Burridge, who returned a few days ago from an Islands trip, made some interesting observations, in an interview, on Samoa and the Samoans. “Yes,” said Mr Burridge, when interrogated on Samoa, “I visited some of the Mau villages in Apia and talked with a number of adherents of the organisation we have heard so much about in New Zealand during the last few years. I found the natives most communicative, and generally intelligent. They also seemed to be most friendly towards visitors. After chatting with them I came to the conclusion that they.were not fully cognisant of the grievances put forward on their behalf by the Mau leaders. However, I gathered that their principal objection to the New Zealand administration was the filling of the executive positions with whites. The natives feel that many of their number are fitted to fill the positions now occupied by New Zealanders. From my own observations I am of the opinion that the dissatisfaction in regard to the administration by New Zealand did not tirely in the minds of the £ am not prepared to say who are responsible for spreading dissatisfaction, but . it seems quite clear the the natives generally do not know very much about -J* the grievances which led to the Mau disturbances.

“I visited a number of the model villages planned by the late Administrator, General Richardson. They are remarkable for their almost mechanical lay-out. The tropical vegetation adds much to their beauty. The grassy surroundings are well kept, and everywhere there is an air of cleanliness. The Samoan villages compare more than favourably with those to be seen in Fiji and some parts of Tonga. The younger Samoans are wonderfully keen to learn, and it is not an uncommon sight to see them in school up to 11 o’clock at night, without a teacher, and deeply immersed in study. The roads within a three-mile radius of Apia are excellent. Outside that limit, however, the roads are not very good. ’ ’ Mr Burridge visited cocoa, rubber and banana plantations. The manager at one of the reparation estates conducted him over a rubber plantation, and l described the various processes, from the tapping of the trees to the time the rubber is ready for export. The work, of collecting the rubber, stated Mr Burridge, is done by -Chinese, who, on this particular plantation,*' had to make a round of from 500 trees per day. Payment is based on the amount of rubber brought into the drying rooms each day, so the Chinese make a very early start. A visit was paid to the tomb of R. L. Stevenson, which, stated Mr Burridge, showed signs of neglect. In times gone past, the resting place of the famous writer was kept in beautiful order. - “Inside the reef at Apia at night time, ’ ’ said Mr Burridge, ‘ ‘ the water is lit up by hundreds of torches used by the natives engaged in fishing. It is indeed a wonderful sight. Sharks, of course, are' not unknown, and I saw one native being taken to hospital who had been attacked by a shark. From the ship’s side I saw a number .of turtles. Evidently Samoans and Tongans cannot- be obtained to work the cargo at the ports of call. Fijians do this work. A special crew is engaged at Suva for the round trp, which occupies about nine or ten days. The Fijians seem to be content with a meagre fare, which consists of three or four large biscuits, two medium-sized potatoes, and a tin of tea, the latter having to do for a dozen. The tea is supplemented with the native drink, kava.” Mr Burridge made other interesting references to other parts of his trip, which, he said, was a most delightful and informative one. He was accompanied by Mrs Burridge. ‘ ‘ The Islands -trip is one which I should be glad to repeat,” observed Mr Burridge.