NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 178, 23 April 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

A very strong feeling against the administration of Samoa. by New Zealand has developed amongst the native population of the islands as the result of the terribly heavy record of deaths due to the ravages of the influenza ■epidemic last year. It is charged against the Administration that it failed to take tho precautionary measures which might have averted the calamity which resulted in the loss of nearly one'fourth of the native population, and that it rejected the offer of modical assistance proffered by the American Governor of the islands adjoining, and which would have proved of immense service. There are other features of the handling of the situation which have been strongly criticised and condemned both by the natives and by white residents at the Islands, and tho whole story, from tho British point of view, makes very unpleasant reading. Attempts have been made to cover up the shortcomings of 'the Administration, and the censorship, has to some extent been responsible for less being heard of the matter here than might otherwise have been the ca-se. Sufficient, however, has been disclosed to make it clear that the Acting-Premier is fully justified in his decision to appoint a Commission to inquire into the matter.. It is to be hoped that the order of reference will be such as to enable the fullest investigation to be made, and that the charges made will be fully probed. If New Zealand is to be entrusted with the administration of the Islands, it is highly necessary that the Government should have the confidence of the natives of Samoa, and the reports which nave reached us suggest clearly enough that at present such is not the case.

A serious attempt, is apparently now being nude to supplement rapidly "the utterly inadequate quarantine facilities which exist at present here and at Auckland. It will be seen from a statement by the Minister of Public Health which appears to-day that it is hoped 1 in a month to have accommodation available for an additional 30Q persons at Somes Island, and in two months to provide accommodation for an additional 250 persons on Motuihi. Considering the nature of the workto be carried out—the erection of wqo'fjen does not seem to be any reason why it should not have been completed months ago. With the addition of the buildings now planned the total quarantine accommodation will provide quarters for 500 people en Somes Island, and for 450 on Motuihi.

A question pf absorbing interest at the moment concemsthe attitude Germany will take up in regard to the imposition of the Allied peace terms. Some late messages allege a defiant determination on tho part of the German Government to refuse to sign the treaty, but it is fairly evident that this partakes more of the character of an organised demonstration—part and parcel of the campaign' conducted in the hope of weakening Allied resolution—than of a genuine expression of opinion. A new turn is at all events given to the situation by a report that Germany has officially accepted the conditions set by the Allies for the reception and isolation of her peace delegation at Versailles. In view of the uncompromising, severity of these conditions their acceptance at least strongly suggests that tho treaty will be signed with little further ado. forwaerls now, np doubt, more than ever a faithful mouthpiece of the German Government, is indulging in bombastic warnings to the Entente, but it is safe to assume that a vast majority of the people of Germany arc much less concerned about the considerations upon which Tnrieaert-s lavs so much emphasis than about the question of subsistence. The Allied control of food supplies in itself goes far to ensure a complaisant attitude on the part of the German Government.

Tho Rev. H. van Staveren has giyen notice rof his intention to move at the aojtt meeting of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board: "That the Belmont Home be handed to the Maodrtby Trustees to realise, and that the money therefrom be 'dwoted to any charity they Hewn $$,".