THE SAMOAN VISIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 155, 26 March 1920, Page 7

THE SAMOAN VISIT

——♦ —— VALUE OF LESSONS LEARNED FAREWELL TO SIR JAMES ALLEN By Teleurarh—Press Association—Copyright /Wireless from the Mokoia.) (Eec. .March 26. 1;5 a.m.) Thursday Evening. At. dinner this evening Sir James Allen paid a generous tribute; lo Captain M'Lean, referring, to the courtesy and skilful seamanship of the muster and officers in, difficult waters. Ho presented Cantain jM'Lean with an inscribed. casa of. pi pes, a .pouch, and ji letter of thanks and .appreciation, -signed ..by all tho party. Sir James Alien also presented •Mi\ Ihiird. the chief steward, with a signed .letter, thanking, him and his staff for their .s.Dlendid .services. ■ Mr. T. K. Sidey.on behalf of members, nresented Sir James Allen with .a memento .-of the-mission, and ,congratulated liini -on -his able leadership of the pitrtv. and also on his appointment to the High' Commissionership. The.Hon, W. F.'C. Carncross eloquently ,supplemented Mr. Side.v's: .remarks, tracing, Sir Jaines .Allen's successful career froni-the date of his sensational entrv to Parliament .thirty .years ago, and expressing, regret that a strong man was leavi-ng-.-New time when strong men were needed. ' Sir . James ■ Allen, replying, w.as greeted .with .prolonged applause, lie . said - 'lie .was .grateful to tlie .whole party : for .the . assistance given" throughout the: trip. He was sorry to think .-that-this probably .would be the last- time ! he would see them all together. He had -had;a -busy time during thirty years, especially the last six. He always >Jt that .members of Parliament could .not ,pos;ibly realise the situation in ..tho. .Pacific .without ..coming ' themselves to .see the islands and study ■their problems. "Whatever the cost of •the trip in - money» -whatever the value •of the gift-of your time, ' I think yon ,will .agj-ee with me it is small, compared with-the'lessons learned. Some of-you may think--we-.we wrong in accepting the -mandate ;for-Samoa. :I-remind you that .wo,cannot live.in isolation. Acceptance of responsibilities opens ijp for us -great .possibilities .of -.usefulness to tlio Empire -iuid to the world. I .am sure, yon .will-face the-duties .with.steady .determination-.without sacrificing-the interests of, the native peoples. After .your kind expressions to-night 'I "feci that probably • Ishould remain .and help settle these "problems, but the strain > .of the last- six .years:has been.-.great. It .is very difficult for mo to carry .on long. A complete change of environment' is necessary. .For this -reason I -accepted the position. .of .'.High ..Commissioner,, and 1 hoperthat.in that office'/I may be .of..some service to New Zealand .and thc"Bmpire. '.'ln .a. final reference to the problems of, the.islands, -Sir, James .Allen (spiritedly declared: "We 'are Britishers, and -as Britishers lave a capacity and will >and powerto meet those difficulties."' (Cheers.) Sir. James Allen concluded with • thanks ;tq everyono for -their ..great kindness .and consideration during the trip, and exipresse'd- a belief that the friendships made .would last as Jpng. as ;politioal associations continued..' and .would not be broken even by,political,.differences, (Applause and cheers.) : 1 '