A.—4b

In respect to medical attention, as mentioned in point No. 4, we should like to see more of our own people taught the knowledge of medicine, and more confidence of the Medical Department placed on those who have already acquired the knowledge of medicine. We know of the wonderful genius of Sagato in the past, and there are several to-day who are doing good work among us which has inspired in us more confidence than in the certificated doctors, yet very little encouragement is given them by the Medical Department. We feel that for the health of the Samoans there should be private doctors such as in the past, but this is the subject of another report, so we will not go into the advantages here. PROHIBITION.—EUROPEAN REPORT. The prohibition of the free indulgence of alcoholic liquor by Europeans in Samoa will ever remain a grievance which nothing will remove except the restoration of the rights of the Europeans in this respect. Protests, representations, and petitions have been made to the New Zealand Government against this most unconstitutional measure since its very inception. All the attempts to justify this arbitrary law have been far from convincing. On the contrary, they have only established the fact more than ever that drastic regulations enforced in spite of the expressed will of the large majority of the people concerned only tend to breed discontent and disaffection, more especially when the powers enforcing such regulations are based on the strength and might of a State or nation outside of, or wholly detached from, the territory affected, and the people of such territory have no representation whatever in the government of such State or nation. The manner in which this law was brought in, and the methods used to carry the law into effect, have seriously affected the faith of those who had pride in that very noble institution known as British justice. The doubts of others in this institution have been confirmed, while those who had no faith in it have been added to in numbers. The Mandate does not provide for prohibition to Europeans. This was admitted by the Minister who led the parliamentary visit to Samoa in 1920, when he informed the citizens that prohibition for Samoa was brought in by the National Government of New Zealand, and it would be unpopular in New Zealand to upset any measure, introduced by the National Government. The same Minister also informed the European citizens of Samoa that the Mandate provided for prohibition of liquor to Samoans, and it was considered by the New Zealand Government that to make the provision of the Mandate effective, it was advisable to impose prohibition on the Europeans as well. This is most unjust to the Europeans in Samoa, as the same condition has not been imposed in any other mandated territory. As for the effect on the Samoans, only the most prejudiced would attempt to gainsay the fact that the law has had the most adverse effect on the Samoans, who have nearly all learnt to make and drink " home brew." The restoration of liquor privileges to Europeans would alone make any regulations to counteract this evil effective, as the knowledge by the Samoans to make " home brew " is gained from the Europeans, who, incensed against the unjust law, made liquor of some kind with the assistance of Native boys. As for the Europeans, the result has been most deplorable. Hardly one who has any taste for beer, wine, or spirits at all has not broken the law in some way. Most, if not all, make and/or consume locally manufactured liquor in some form or another. It is doubtful if any one would resist a chance to smuggle liquor when the occasion arises. This is all despite the vigilance of the police, who are doing everything possible to uphold the law under existing circumstances. The words of no less eminent a man than Abraham Lincoln have come true in? Samoa. He is quoted, as far back as 1840, to have said, " Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a specimen of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason, in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes at the very principle on which our Government was founded." There can now be no obstacle to the repeal of the prohibition law for Europeans in Samoa, except that of sentiment in New Zealand. Some explanation may be required by the Permanent Mandates Commission. There can be no disgrace in the admission of a mistake or the righting of a wrong. The point which should be of paramount importance to New Zealand is the fact that the prohibition law and similar arbitrary measures have sadly shaken the faith of the people in " British justice and in the British interpretation of the liberty of the subject." The dole of one to four bottlesfper month at the pleasure of the Medical Officers smacks too much of that paternal system tending of which our late enemies have been accused. The Europeans in Samoa have every confidence in that the New Zealand Government will give this matter their early and favourable consideration. [Translation.] PROHIBITION.—SAMOAN REPORT. 1. As we value our own old customs and resent their summary abolition, so do we appreciate the resentment felt by the Europeans in of their'free'indulgence in""spirituous liquors, which is an old custom with them. 2. It is urgent that regulations be made to allow Europeans their liquor so that the making of the more harmful " home brew " may ultimately pass away. 3. The satisfactory solution of the prohibition law against Europeans will undoubtedly reflect favourably on the Samoan, insomuch that they will be saved the temptation of brewing for sale to Europeans, now resulting in many heavy punishments against them.

3—A. 48.

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