SAMOA

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1921, Page 4

SAMOA

A FUTURE "GOLD MINE

VIKAYS OF PROFESSOR .MARSDEN WELLINGTON, A larch 1.

‘‘Now Zealand should not gi' c up Si,nioii. Solar energy is being poured into ihe island at a rate far greater than it comes to Now Zealand, and it is our business to get it out and use it The island will he a gold mine in time. It will O' slow in developing to that, stage, but the Government is going m the right direction to get it. limy are encouraging public works and seeing to the sanitary conditions and medical arrangements which arc not too good at tlic moment, but are on tbe way to improvement. There is a state of transition now. There is r

slump in copra, and chaos was -aitsod by the expulsion of the experienced German planters, whoso successors are now gaining experience irapidly. As soon as that, period is over things will go smoothly in Samoa. Mistakes have been made and bad ones, but they have been due to inexperience, and there are hopeful signs ai the moment. The main thing is to give the native an incentive to work and encourage him by good conditions, and sympa.theiie understanding.”

These are the views of Professor E. Marsden, of -Victoria College, who has just returned from a three months visit to British Samoa. Tie added that he was impressed with the work of the Administrator. Colonel Tate, who was going the right way to get the natives to work. Dr Ritchie, lie mentioned, was also doing excellent work in connection with public health. Professor Marsden said at first he was inclined to sympathise with those who were opposed to the prohibition of liquor in the islands, but after further experience he was convinced that it was a step in the right direction. It was in the interests both of the natives and of the young Europeans” who had to live there. Several of the planters also agreed that prohibition was the right thing for these islands.

The fate of the Geophysical Observatory seems to be held in abeyance. Professor Marsden lias left Air O. J. AVostland in charge of it in the meantime, and has himself brought hack valuable data which will throw considerable light on the geophysical problems of the Pacific.