TROUBLE IN SAMOA.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1927, Page 4

TROUBLE IN SAMOA.

COMPLAINTS of METHODS 01

ADAIINISTRATION

AUCKLAND. June 14. 'j All is not well with Samoa according to passengers who returned lit t- e ! Tol'ua this morning. At present the I Hon AY. Noswurthy, Alinister of Exi lernal Affairs, is in Samoa trying to j pour oil on the troubled waters. I ns- , * sengers state that lie is listening to ' : both sides of the ease, but that nothing lias been made public yet, and j (hat his task is a difficult one. | The opposition to the Adininistraj Lion is known as the Samoan League. 1 "Passengers this morning stated that : it had the support, of a considerable ! number of Samoans in and nround ■ Apia, but in other parts of the nian- _ j dated territory native sympathies are ' with Sir George Richardson. Members of the league, which is led by Lumpcatts, took no part in the Kings Birthday celebrations. They held their own functions in opposition to those of the Administrator. wore purple ribbons and decorated their eon with purple streamers. As a result of the unrest, the passengers stated, business is depressed. One passenger states that the people of Fiji i are of opinion that General Richard- | son has advanced too quickly for tho people of Samoa. | The league has issued a pamphlet entitled. “How New Zealand Administers its AlandaLe from the League of | Nations.” This pamphlet, among I other things, says: ‘‘ln 1021 the New ■' Zealand Parliament passed an Act to j make provision for the poverinneiit of AA’eslern Samoa, hut one glaring, wil- ! fill and obvious omission was tho to- | fal absence of any right for the people of Samoa (native or European) to a voice in the government of the territory, or a say in tho levying and spending of revenue raised from them.” The pamphlet also stales: ■•The so-called Legislative Council of Western Samoa was composed of n majority from the administrative slnfl of public servants, with others selected from citizens approved by the Gov-ernor-General. There was no provision whatever for representatives to be elected by either the European or the Samoans who contributed all the revenue.” The pamphlet also finds fault with the appointments of faipules (native chiefs) as provided for in legislation which was made in 1923. It says: “Rut. while the New Zealand Act of 1923 provided that no faipule should l, e * appointed by the Administrator unless qualified in accordance with ancient customs and usages, ancient traditions and practices among the Samoans have not only been ignored, but have been treated with contempt and disregard. Samoans regard these faipules as mere nominees of the Administration. who net without ati> district or tribal authority.” A leader in tho ‘‘Samoan Guardian'’ states that the Administrator took all the hi ante for not allowing a deputation of natives and Europeans to visit New Zealand to place their position before the Hon AY. Noswurthy. It also says: “It is believed to be his intention on this occasion ’ (the visit of Afi Nosworthy to Samoa) “to prevent resolutions of the people being presented to the Alinister as desired. He claims that all things must go through the faipule. The obstinacy of the Administrator lias increased the desire of the Alatais to be heard through their own chosen representatives, and not through the nominated faipules ol J administration.” I