SAMOAN PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 143, 12 March 1920, Page 7

SAMOAN PROBLEMS

SIR JAMES ALLEN REPLIES TO CITIZENS' REPORTS

MISSIONARIES' TRAINING COLLEGE VISITED By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. March 11, 5.5 p.m.) Apia, March 11. Replying to tho citizens' reports on Samoa'n problems, Sir James Allen said . tho mandate clearly laid down that the natives must be, the first interest of the mandatory power, but the Minister added that, recognising liis duty to the world, ho did not believe it right to let such a fertile land remain uncultivated. He endorsed the action of the Administration in insisting on tho - improvement of laixnirers' quarters. In. answer to complaints. of- forced- repatriation, he held out no hope of a return of any part of Hie repatriation fees. He considered that a scheme- of advances to settlers, was hardly practicable until the labour question .was settled, but he promised to bring the matter before Cabinet; He said lie had not received final instruc-tions-in reference to tho mandate, but would do his utmost to hasten th<6 gazetting of an Imperial Order-in-Council to make the mandate clear. It was intended that Samoa should be administered as an integral portion of New Zealand. Discussing the liquor report Sir James Allen said lie would give a. straight and uncompromising answer. The National Cabinet had resolved that prohibition was necessary in Samoa, nnd tho decision was endorsed by the Reform Cabinet. He ; quoted the mandate's injunction, against permitting slavery,' firearms or liquor. He also emphasised the danger in dealing with the proud and dignified Samoan race of any suggestion-of-dis-crimination in favour of- the whites as against the natives. Speaking to. the report on the constabulary, a member of the committee said that wjbody knew what the members of the force found to do. He also complained that they were not officially informed of the decision to bring police from New Zealand. Sir James Allen said that announcing the dispatch of constabulary would have meant the disclor sure of the intention of the evacuation of'the Expeditionary Force, which, was not desirable. The Government anticipated the constabulary would be welcome as the first, definite act marking the reversion to civil administration, 110 added:, "Though; you. 'may not see a good reason lor sending the constabulary to .Samoa, the New Zealand Government does., see. a reason which at, the present moment I.am not at, liberty to'disclose," The Minister pointed out that the cost of the forco was borne bv New Zealand.

The-editor of the newspaper supplemented at length the report requesting the discontinuance of the censorship. Questioned by Messrs. Carncross, Triggs, and Geddes he admitted sending much unedited matter to the- censor thus necessitating editorship by the censor. Faced with the alternatives of a. continuation of the censorship or publication under the conditions the New Zealand Press was. subject to under-the provisions of the. Crimes Act as regards sedition, the editor considered the present censorship preferable; Sir James Allen said, ho believed in a free press, but /not an unlicensed' press. At the Minister's suggestion tlrn editor agreed to edit the matter and 1 then send it to the censor.

The Rev. Clark, questioned, as to his statement in the published report that the attempts of the Government at education were not- encouraging, said he referred to the. expense compared with that of the mission schools. He believed a compulsory system was desirable. The German Administration always threatened efforts in that direction. Sir James Allen said the members: recognised to the full the valuable, work, done by missionaries in the Pacific Islands. He did not. want to interfere,, but thought, it possible- that there was room for some improvements. He instanced the - Cook Group, where the State had taken over the ;seho6ls": at the request of the Loii-' don Missionary Society. The Government expected Samoa to bear some of the cost of educating the. children. . Sir James Allen intimated that he did not agree to an elective Legislative Council, at all event." until it-was settled who were- entitled to the franchise.

Questioned' 011 the status of German property, ho said that according to the Treaty New, Zealand would take over such formerly German owned properties as the D.H.P.G., but until an Order-in-Council -ivns gazetted he was unable to »iv what action -would be taken in regard to the individual Gorman planters; The. visit of Sir James Allen and party 'London. Missionary Society's training, college, at Malua ifor pastors and, teachers: for Samoa and other Pacific -IsSlmds and Papua was one of the most notable events of the tour. Members were impressed- with the splendid intelligence and physique of the four hundred young men- ami' women students. Su- James-Allen said ho. recognised that in their hands lay- the future of Samoa. He wished them continued success. Members regarded them as a hopeful augury of the- future. '