A. —4b

subjects that have been represented to him in our reports. They were handed to the Administrator last December at the' Minister's request. It is now seven months, and these reports should have had by now all the consideration that is necessary. The Hon. Minister should be in a position to tell us what the position is with regard to each of the reports. We have represented to the Hon. Minister the fact, as we know it, that we have the confidence of the people of Samoa—Europeans and Natives —by the fact that the whole of this committee have been elected at public meetings. In the European section of the committee are three elected members who were brought in last election by an overwhelming majority. Despite what the Minister has told us as to the people who are said to support this committee, I wish to say that had the Minister decided to prove for himself, there are ample proofs right here that a very large majority of the people of Samoa support this committee. If the Minister elects to continue stating and accepting what he has said —that he is satisfied that the bulk of the Samoans are satisfied with the present methods, and that there are no complaints—then the responsibility rests on the Minister. The people of Samoa are anxiously awaiting the result of this meeting, and, as I have said before, having been elected by them, and entrusted with their confidence, our duty is to inform them of the result of this meeting. Till now the Minister has not given us any reply to the subjects raised in the representations raised in the reports. The Minister has consulted the Faipules on Native matters. Both the Minister and the Faipules must realize that there is great dissatisfaction among the people. If in spite of this knowledge, which present-day events must convince them of, they still continue to say that things are in order and that no change is necessary, then the Minister has included the Faipules in that responsibility. The attempt to throw the responsibility and blame for the present conditions on the Citizens' Committee is an attempt to keep the Samoans ever in subordination. The Samoans have had their own elected representation in the past, and they are entitled to elected representation to-day. Furthermore, they are entitled to be represented in the Legislative Council, because Samoans are the Natives of this country, and they will always be, in numbers, the dominating people here. Until that time when Samoans are represented in the Legislative Council the elected representatives of the European population must assume representation on behalf of the Samoan Natives. That being so, and they being not only the elected representatives of prominent European residents of Samoa, and realizing that the welfare of the Samoan people is identical with their own, they must also assume the position of treating Samoans as their constituents, and thus they should be able to make representations for them in respect of matters which tend for the advancement of this country. If, therefore, in the elected members making such representations to the Natives and getting their support, and also putting in proper form those conditions that they know the Natives are dissatisfied with, they meet with the stubborn resistance of the Administrator and thus bring about dissatisfaction here in Samoa, then the responsibility rests with the Administrator, and not with the Citizens' Committee. The Administrator has often repeated the statement that the Government of Western Samoa must always bear in mind that the first duty is to the Samoan people. It has also been stated that, whatever may have been the policy of the previous Samoan Governments, it is certainly the policy of the New Zealand Government of Samoa that the status of Samoans shall be equal to that of Europeans. If, therefore, the status of the Samoans and the Europeans is to be equal, and the Europeans recognize their duty to the Samoans and also appreciate the fact that the advancement of the Samoan people is their interest, and the Samoan people appreciate the fact that the prominent residents of Samoa have the same interest in the welfare of Samoa as the Samoans, then, their interests being identical, they must be allowed to deliberate together and to act together, not only in the Legislative Council, but in the discussion of things generally that tend to bring about a better understanding between the races, so that they may collectively and unitedly work for the good government of this country. If the Administrator is allowed to meet the Samoan people and discuss with them European affairs, condemning certain portions of the European residents, he is not only carrying out a dangerous policy, and an unwise one, but it should then be allowed for the European race to put their case before the Samoans, more especially in view of the conditions that have been brought about whereby the two races should have equal status. If a law such as the one that was lately passed through the Legislative Council is necessary for the maintenance of authority in Native affairs, to protect the Faipules and other Samoan officials from criticism or any acts which are likely, or considered likely, to undermine the authority of the Government officials, then it is also necessary to make a law to protect the people of Samoa —Europeans and Natives—from the calumnies, abuse, and slander that have been availed of by the Faipules of late. In conclusion, I must again point out that a very large majority of the people of Samoa have placed their confidence in us, and, say what you will, they are awaiting your deliberation with keen interest. If you insist on treating the majority of the people in Samoa as an insignificant number, then you are doing so fully aware of that fact. Hon. Minister : Mr. Nelson, and gentlemen of the Citizens' Committee, I have nothing to add or take away from the statement that I delivered earlier this forenoon. As Mr. Nelson has said, the responsibility, after hearing what you have had to say, rests upon me as Minister in charge of External Affairs ; and I may say here and now, as I said in that statement, that the management of the Native affairs of Samoa is not going to be entrusted to the Citizens' Committee. If there is any further agitation amongst the Natives in Samoa the Citizens' Committee will be held directly responsible to the Government of New Zealand, which is responsible, as the Mandatory Power, to the League of Nations, [ will give you a reasonable and fair time to undo the trouble that has

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