SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17385, 23 April 1928, Page 6

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

SIR G. RICHARDSON’S STATEMENT. GROSS MISREPRESENTATION MADE A WIDELY-ORGANISED PLAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. A general statement upon the various phases of the position in Samoa was made by Major-General Sir G. Richardson on the eve of his departure for Geneva, where he will represent the New Zealand. Government'at the sittings of the Mandates Commission of the League. Major-General Richardson declined to enter into any discussions concerning the charges against the Administrator. He said the gross misrepresentations that have been made concerning Samoa were part and parcel of a deliberately and widely-organised plan on the part of a small section of the community in Apia to defame New Zealand, lie stressed the high ideals of tlic New Zealand Government in endeavouring to uplift natives. Already a good deal had been done in regard to the health of the Samoans, and the population had been increased to 40,000. The ideal of the New Zealand Government was to preserve Samoa entirely and solely for the Samoans. If they allowed the territory to he commercialised no doubt it would progress by leaps and bounds, as compared with present conditions, but what would happen to the indigenous people? Just, what had happened in other Pacific Islands where there was a large Indian and Chinese population competing with the natives. The Polynesian was not able to stand up against the Asiatic. The present discord in Samoa was not due to the Administration, which had done its utmost to promote harmony and goodwill amongst the various sections of the community. There was no sign of trouble until eighteen months ago. when a few persons, including some who had been at the game before, deliberately incited the natives, and had influenced them to join with them, and so made trouble for Samoa. The charges of interference with Samoan Customs were absolutely untrue. No changes had been made without the concurrence of the natives, or at their request.