WESTERN SAMOA

Evening Star, Issue 22445, 16 September 1936, Page 9

WESTERN SAMOA

ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED . NATIVES DESIRE SEPARATION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, September 16. (Received September 16, at 11.5 a.m.) Mr R. W. Robson, editor of the ‘ Pacific Islands Monthly,’ in an address at the Polynesian Club, criticised the administration of 'Western Samoa by the New Zealand Government. He said that while in Samoa recently he heard much talk among non-official Europeans and among half-castes of the desire to be separated from New Zealand and attached to the administration of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (British Colonial Office), whose headquarters were at Suva. Mr Robson added that the good will mission that was sent to Western Samoa recently by the New Zealand Government had made the confusion in the island worse. The mission had promised the Man many concessions and reforms, but there would be trouble when the natives realised that the gesture did not mean self-government. Nothing had been done to provide for the future of 3,500 half-castes, whoso hatred for New Zealand was responsible for much of the trouble. PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY MR 0. F. NELSON QUOTED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 16. _ Brief reference to the political position in Samoa was made by the Prime Minister to-day, when his attention was called to the cablegram from Sydney reporting the remarks of Mr R. W. Robson, editor _of ‘ Pacific Islands Monthly,’ regarding the administration of Western Samoa. Mr Savage re-marked-that Mr 0. F. Nelson, who recently returned to Samoa, was in a better position to sum up the political situation in Samoa than Mr Robson. The Prime Minister stated that he had received from Mr Nelson a memorandum outlining the position in Samoa, and in a covering letter Mr Nelson said: “ I am only sorry that time did not permit of my doing more towards the end in bringing into fruition the generous policy of the New Zealand Government while the Ministerial delegation was here, but the foundation has been laid for mutual goodwill and confidence, which is the basis of the good relations between the governors and the Governor, and the co-operation between the xViau and the Administration, which 1 shall do my utmost to foster, augurs well for the future. The responsibility placed upon Samoans to resume the conduct of their own local affairs has already borne good results in that many minor differences in villages and districts, which might have led to major issues, have been settled; by the good offices of the Samoan chiefs and have been kept out of court. The term, ‘ Malo,’ which applied only to such aamoans who held office in the Administration, will soon apply to the whole of the Samoans, especially after the Man has taken part in the election or selection of their own representatives to the Faipule Fono, the Legislative Council, and other public offices.” Mr Nelson thanks the Government for his return to his home land, and for the opportunity thus given him to serve his people and the mandatory Government. He expresses _ his best wishes for long continuance in office of the present Government,