CAPTURE OF SAMOA

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14023, 28 March 1919, Page 6

CAPTURE OF SAMOA

THE DOMINION’S PART. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Mr Massey’s expression of surprise and indignation at the Post having accused him of basing New Zealand’s claim to German Samoa upon a “parochial and anti-imperial absurdity” has brought the inevitable retort from the local evening journal. The editor flings back at the Prime Minister a cablegram of January last in which he was represented as declaring that “New Zealand would never give up to Germany . . an island won by New Zealand’s efforts.” This is scarcely fair. Mr Massey has stated that he mentioned the occupation of the island by Dominion troops merely incidentally and without any idea of urging it as a claim upon the Imperial authorities and his word ought to he accepted. The incident, however, may serve as a warning to other public men who are prone to talk at, large when distributing the credit foxwinning the war.