SAMOA.
RETENTION AFTER THE WAS. SPREYDON COUNCILS OPINION, '"I thinl: it rather absurd to count our chickens before they are hatchod " said .Mr W. 11. Winsor, Mayor of Spreydon, iu referring at last night's meeting of tho Spreydon Borough Council to a letter from the Auckland Council, asking the local body to endorse its resolution regarding tho necessity of delegates to tho eventual Peace Conference strenuously urgjng the retontiou of Samoa in British hands. Personally, ho did not think it wise to support tho motion. They had to win the war before moving in such a matter. If Great Britain and Germany could not como to a decision regarding Samoa when the war was concluded without having the opinion of the Spreydon Borough Council, they would, of course, then tender it. However, it was possible that the Hindenburg Council, or tho Potsdam Drain" ago Board, might bo considering some way in which they could dispose of New Zealand at the conclusion of the war. lie added : "Wo fool as patriotic as anyone about tho matter, and we think that wo are going to win the war but it is not. won yet. This (the posal of Samoa) is certainly a matter tor tlu» Imperial authorities." Cr. A. Manhire: "I think we are talking about something of which we know nothing. We should bo •welladvised to leave it alone." He moved that tho letter be received. , ?, r - A . J /- Brewer: I think that probably neither side will win. They will come to some terms of settlement. We do not wish for throe or four years of war about one little piece of ground. We can quite "wril leave the matter to the Imperial authorities.
Cr l. H. Rudd emphatically contended that the Council should express its opinion regarding the matter, -with tho understanding that it was provisional upon the Allies winning the war. It was right and proper that everybody who had dono a share in.the war, or sent soils to it, should support the resolution. "I was terribly astonished at the remarks passed at" the recent City Council meeting, according to tho report in the papers," continued the speaker. "I think they ought to bo ashamod of themselves (re tor ring to those who passed remarks adverse to tho motion at tha City Council meeting). J am surprised at von gentlemen not supporting the resolution. Wo do not want to give Germany back Samoa. TTo should never bo snfo in iVcw Zealand if she had it."
The speaker added that if ire we» successful in this -war, and he believed we would be, it was our duty to keeo .Samoa and he thought the % Spreydor Jjorough Council should express itj upon tlio matter. The delegate t - to the Conforenco would want something at the back of them. It was absolute nonsense to say, as Borne had said, that tho resolution was aimed solely at benefiting Auckand—tho retention of Samoa would benefit all. Cr. J. T. Diack said he would support Cr. Rudd if ho would formulate nn amendment on the lines of his remarks. Cr. E. O'Rourke: Have you read the papers to-night? Have you road of the thousands of pounds squandered by> our Homo Government upon contracts? Tho.v might open your eyes a bit about oamoa. >\e don't know anything about it. 6 x , c ' r - Williamson said he thought that the matter should bo keDt out of tho Council. No end of ,Var s tad been waged about territory; They should go very cautiously in tno matter, and leave it to pcoplo who wftre better posted up "with facts regarding: it than they wero, Cr. E. Ji. Clarke spoke in favour of tho amendment.
The Mayor: We do not know where we are in thi s war yet. Our representatives will go Homo and see what teamca moans to the Emnire at large Our decision regarding it'would not be worth tho paper it was written upon. J.t might even happon, that it would be wise for tho Empire to pass these islands over to Germany. We are only » comparatively small population, you know I .' The motion was carried and the amendment lost. Cr. Kudd indignantly expressing his disaporoval.
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Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16160, 14 March 1918, Page 6
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700SAMOA. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16160, 14 March 1918, Page 6
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