SAMOA.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1920, Page 1

SAMOA.

PROSPEROUS FUTURE PRE DICTED.

AUCKLAND, June 22,

Mr J. I), dray, Under-Secretary for External Affairs, and Mr I). G. Clark, Commissioner of Taxes, returned by the Navua, from a visit to Samoa in connection with the classification and organisation of the Public Service as the reresult of the coming into operation of civil government on May Ist last, under the Samoan Constitution Order. In discussing the change of affairs in Samoa, Mr Gray remarked that despite the fact that civil administration bad practically to start de novo, the now machinery was beginning to run very satisfactorily. Samoa bad been the shuttlecock of the Pacific for a good many years ,onc form of administration following another. The longest regime the German—had been simply a systematic exploitation of the group, the resources of which had been bled to send money to Germany. The consequence was that all public works and I public facilities bad either been neglected altogether or performed in a makeshift style. There had, in short, been no real attempt whatever to build the foundation for a permanent futureprosperity. The haphazard civil government of the Germans easily went to pieces under the first tests of bur military occupation. Tt was a matter for satisfaction, therefore, that the institution of an energetic form of civil administration was being established with, out more dislocation. “Considering the handicaps and difficulties encountered wo found conditions at Samoa quite satisfactory,” Mr Gray said, adding, “Samoa is not going to be a white elephant for New Zealand. When the Labour question is satisfactorily settled, so that normal production and development are unhampered, Semoa will need no economic apologists. There is every prospect of a most prosperous iutuie for the group.” .