TROUBLE IN SAMOA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 8

TROUBLE IN SAMOA.

THE GERMAN ADMINISTRATION. A NATIVE RISING POSSIBLE. Further news concorning the serious state of affairs in Gorman Samoa was gleaned on : the arrival ,at Auckland of the s.s. Tweeddale, which called at Apia on the way from San Francisco.,.. ,' The native demonstrations appear to have so far passed off fairly quietly, .but in tho words of ono of the officers by the Tweeddale (says the Auckland' "Herald"), ."the poopio have shown their teeth, objecting to their lack, of representation and to. Governmental . waste of tax moneys." .' . • ', . Ij; is known now that no insurrection was intended, and that, the Samoan' :orator, Lauati, did not bring the 3000 men who went to Apia, and: with faces biaciened for war defied tho Governor to send the old man away to tho pestilential climato of New Guinea 1 merely because he was, the spokesman .of ,a great district. On several occasions during past years chiefs have been seized, 1 and, without .public hurried off to far away places, to cowe back later on as physical wrecks. • Sorno have been ordered to .go to Tonga, without , even being afforded a hearing in defence. .This • sort of thing, after, nine years of German occupation; and" while good Courts exist," which. are. presided' over: by.; painstaking judges, seems to tho Samoan to fall; short of that white man's justice which he has • beentoldis so eminently honourable' and] fair.'-'There-fore, when tho.Samoans of Le Fnssaleleaga, saw/their old. chief summoned to : Apia for a consultation with tho Governor, and when ■ they heard that a vessel was in Apia Harbour fitting out for New Britain, they began to piece :mattors together, and 3000 or more hurried after the - old man, who had departed in a single unarmed boat. He was overtaken and' delayed until' the suspected ship sailed, and then he entered Apia, ana made' an affecting speech, addressing Governor Sblf in the midst of a great, assemblage.; .Ho offered to deliver 'himself up; but his people; intervened," and. angry.passages'ensued between them and some persons of other districts; who support tho Governor, the: meeting coming to •an angry Close. ''' - :

. : A summons from the Governor for the people to. 'disperse 'was '.received- with- derision, and 'when: ho appeared; amongst them, their faces :wero. blackened for war. It was found. that Lauati,could-not.send- his.people; home, and to get'them away, from Apia it was necessary for him to go 'baefc to Savaii with . them. ; He. did. so,. and on most positive assurnncei) of, safety .he returned to Apia, on the . steamer Dawn. It is known that -he was entertained at; "Vailima" (Government House), and it is said that h« has .boen appointed to or promised, a high posi-. tion : under the Government.'

■ - The, German Administration, it is contended, .needs tho active sympathy of the foreign element to -pacify'-the' natives. Twothirds of the officials could bo dispensed with to the'betterment of the Administration and the advantage of all. . Tho Samoan has passed the kindergarten stage, and ho wants to ; know where !the .money goes.- ' When it is. shown 'that; mo§t of the native poll-tax is. distributed amongst the. districts' for salaries, etc.-; and ho is told, "There, you' see, is . . your money , paid :back .chiefly to .you,"ho . replies, "I have paid. 10 per cent.', on .'all of my purchases. during the 'year, three or four .'times. Ihe amount, of the poll-tax; :I have . .paid 'oh carts, horses, '-.'.boats j dog 3, bicycles, . pigeon guns; powder, arid : have 'had 'to., get -out expensivo ■ 'permission^', if v I . wanted i:to : go -Ito. Tutuila or Fiji,-' as. well." Tho constant effort to undcr-rato natiro understanding is said to be /indulged in- to :a great, extent-: by - the. Governor, ; who . is, ono may almost say, the whole Administration. The .-..Courts arc beyond his. control, and' at times : ho. has expressed' the opinion that they wero not' properly supporting him.-i. -i.

; .It •. is generally •••believed >that matters can only. ; bo. .patched aip, and . that new methods aro,';imperative.';'..'lt' '■is believed that . the insitives /pressed - will, fight—fight, with dos- ( there be ; a change,.,..'that 'ho.; : caught : fbr years,'! and woiild ;'coßt .millions -of "mark's,' ahd that :rio outlying' 'German' - station ' orplantation • wo'uid .bo vsiifo: unless Under ; heavy\ and .''ex-; pensive!- guard.-' By, changing. the . whole' system, .however, and cutting expenses down by GO per cent-., the country under local administration would flourish after doing away .with. dictatorial methods. , . Every .' resident in Samoa is . counselling peace, but ihey- are. not. all of themi; counselling 'the people. to be satisfied .with existing conditions. - ! A change in .the f Goyernbkhip is spoken of :as being more than likely,; in r,whiph' ,'.case"probably- the' Vice-Governor, v Dr. Schultz : (Chiof . Justice) 'would' succeed : Dr. Solf.The Chief Justice, is popular 'with' all, and as. Vice-Governor during Dr. Solf 1 a ! ab-, sonce he; displayed tact' and' ability Tvhich' won warm praise. ~ :i ' : ' ' ,