WITHOUT BIAS

Evening Star, Issue 19804, 1 March 1928, Page 6

WITHOUT BIAS

The Trouble in Samoa

Chief Source—Copra

Richardson Regime Benevolent

No “Brass Hat” Rule

Native Interests Before Traders’

[Teh United Pbbes Association.]

GREYMOUTH, March 1. In an interview’ granted the ‘Star ’ today, Mr Oruickshank, cx-Commissioner of Police and Prisons at Samoa, made an interesting statement concerning the crisis in Samoa. Mr Cruickshank is on a holiday visit to Greymouth. He retired from the police force in 1920, after serving forty-three years, and he went out wdtli the rank of superintendent. He visited the Old Country, and while in London accepted the post of Commissioner in Samoa. He commenced duty on January, 1922, and during the four years he held tiic position reorganised the Samoan police and prisons service.

military domination in Samoa. There is absolutely no such thing, and every Samoan, from the highest to the lowest native, can approach General Richardson for advice and guidance, and has done so. BANISHMENT EXPLAINED. “Much political capital has been made out of the term ‘ banishment,’ but it is unwarranted, in Samoa banishment means this: A chief or native of lesser rank often leaves his own village and goes to stay at another. His conduct, moral and otherwise, becomes obnoxious, and the villagers complain to the polenu (the native responsible for tlio conduct of the village). If he considers the complaint justified lie sends it on to the Faipulo (native member of Parliament), who requests the Administrator to have the offending native removed. Inquiries urc then iniulo by tho departmental officers. If they refrard the complaint as well fomuTed and consider there is likely to be a serious disturbance in the village, the Administrator issues an order for the native to leave the village and return to Ins own. In some cases a scallywag chief becomes obnoxious in bis own village, and the request is made for his removal. If the Administrator is satisfied that the chief’s continued residence in the village is likely to lead to trouble and perhaps bloodshed the chief is ordered to go to some distant village and remain there lov a stated period—generally six months or a year. That is the procedure, and that is what lias been called 4 banishment.’ The so-called banishment that has taken place from Samoa, is simply iu the. interests of all concerned, including those who arc removed. A CHIEF FACTORY. “Chiefs iu Samoa arc as thick as sparrows. In every .other village they have, as it were, a 1 chief factory. Any native who considers himself grand orator and is too lazy to woik has only to kill a pig and give his neighbors a ieast to be a chief. Then he struts about like a peacock, and in many cases dc mincers over the people. A number of these chiefs are thorough 4 scallywags.’ They arc jealous of the- Faipules, who hold official •rlariod positions, and hold a fono (or local native Parliament) every six months with the Administrator. LIKE SCHOOL BOYS. “ The Samoan native is like a schoolboy. For instance, if one boy at a New Zealand school bad a top another would want it. That explains Samoan jealousy. The Man is really an assemblage of dissatisfied chiefs, who are jealous of those in Government positions. A great deal has been made by political critics in New' Zealand of what they allege to be the 4 big stick’ methods employed by the Government. Recently half a dozen unarmed police constables were sent to Samoa, and critics made a terrible noise about such a tremendous demonstration of. force. There were only two European police officers in Samoa, and the half-dozen constables brought the force to eight all told. There are about thirty native police, but they cannot wholly be depended upon in a crisis. The population of Samoa is 40,000. Natives number 38,000, and of the remaining 2,000 only five or six hundred are Europeans, the remainder being half-castes. Can any sane man say chat eight European police for 40,000 inhabitants scattered over the two islands of Samoa is a number in excess of even ordinary requirements? MAU WIELDS “ BIG STICK.” “ f think the 4 big stack’ has been in the bands of the Man, which is really a Government in opposition to the Administration. General Richardson invited the Man to discuss their grievances, but they have no real grievances. The Samoan natives collectively are a line, lovable people, and it is a shame that they are to be put in “no man’s land” between two opposing forces, and made the medium either of economic or political propaganda, which may lead to-serious consequences. I, consider it most unmanly to make allegations against General Richardson behind his back, because be lias no opportunity of replying. “ Mr Nelson has many good qualities. Ho is a friend of mine, and I am quite friendly towards him, but I would like the people of New Zealand to know the truth, ami that is my only motive for speaking. If the people of New Zealand knew ns much as ,1 do about Samoa and its people, there would probably be less criticism and propaganda from certain quarters, as it would not have a hope of deceiving New Zealanders.”

“Speaking without bias—personal, financial, or political—l will give you the facts relating to the trouble in Samoa,” said Air Cruickshank. 41 1 know personally Nelson, Smythe, and Gurr, also Westbrook, Williams, and all the other members of the Citizens’ Committee, a self-constituted organisation, whose interest as traders is to make profits, in contrast to, the Administration’s object, which is to administer the affairs of the islands for the benefit of ail, and especially to the interests of the natives themselves, who are quite incapable, and will be so for years, of carrying out the administration themselves, even in minor branches. PROHIBITION AND COPRA,

“Tbo trouble in Samoa arises from only two sources—namely, Prohibition and copra. Ever since Prohibition was inaugurated there has been an agitation to restore the licensed bar, and it continues as strongly as ever, notwithstanding statements to the contrary. Speaking from my knowledge of the natives and half-castes, 1 am satisfied that the open bar and the sale of intoxicating liquor for personal gain, even with restrictions, is certainly not in the best itnerests of either the natives or the half-castes, nor the European residents. In some cases, owing to the enervating climate, a stimulant under medical direction is necessary, and that system is, iu force. Some politicians have publicly stated that the administtativo officials are violating the law by manufacturing liquor. That is only a half truth. The fact is that a European in such a climate cannot drink much water and keep healthy. A light beer is brewed, and if not of over 3 per cent, alcoholic strength is allowed by law. Many Europeans, including the administrative officials, make this beverage, which is quite lawful. Jn iact, a number of traders manufacture and sell it to anyone who wishes to buy, including natives. BEST MARKET FOR NATIVES.

“In American Samoa, seventy miles distant, all the copra is collected irom tho natives by the American Administration and sold in the highest market, the proceeds being handed over to the natives; but in Western Samoa, the Burns-Philp and Nelson Companies and a lew smaller traders purchase all the natives’ copra. The price of copra is practically decided by Nelson and the Burns-Philp traders. The Administrator, who has the native interest at heart, intimated that he intended to collect native copra and market it on behalf of the natives, so that they would get a better price for-copra. Up to this point all was well, there was no Alan, no agitation, and no/rouble. The trouble started after the visit made to New Zealand by Air Nelson, and the Mau was set up. General Richardsons administration was appreciated by everybody except some beachcombcis, who must find fault with everybody and everything.

NELSON MUST HAVE HIS WAY. “No Administrator, including the political critics in New Zealand, could get on with Mr Nelson unless they carried out his ideas and wishes. am under no obligation to General Bicli.uason, who is just the same to mo as anyone else. During the years I spent in Samoa I made a special study ot native psychology. The thirty-two native constables under me wore all duels, ana 1 was able to gather information irom them as to how the new administrative ideas were taking on among the natives irenerally. “ General Richardson docs not consider himself at all. He is working wholly and solely m the interests ot the natives. No man could have done better than he lias done in Samoa with regard to the medical, educational, moral, and sanitary welfare ot the natives. . T r , . , “ It has been said m New Zealand that there is too much ‘ brass bat ’ and