The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1927. THE SAMOAN SITUATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1927. THE SAMOAN SITUATION.

The Samoan situation has reached what is practically an international phase. No amount of ex]donation by the Government at this end will satisfy j»n 1 >1 io opinion at this stage, nor would si parliamentary enquiry he sit sill satisfaetor.v —it would he too partisan. We have lnul the Minister of External Affairs (Mr Nosworthy) going to the spot, and his utterances in explanation of the deportation policy are far from clear. To endeavour to satisfy public opinion at this juncture, a personal enquiry hy si .Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand might prove the most convincing. Apparently the deportations continue, a fact which .shows the policy is Hot a success. AYe should say the natives are not naturally rebellious, and the extreme steps being taken could only be justified -by overt acts of rebellion. The natives have not the force or power to imperil the peace of the Islands, and to cheek any objectionable procedure in the manner proposed, is like using a steam hammer to crack a nut. There may. of course, and probably there is. a set of circumstances which call for treatment, hut the method adopted to check whatever is objectionable is altogether extreme. It is not a part of the policy of the British race to condemn a man without a fair trial. The procedure in Samoa is on high-handed military lines, and there is no question that course is very objectionable to all believers in fair play. The Government will incur much odium from the present procedure which is being continued without any satisfactory public statement as to the lieinousness of the alleged offences. It is not a question of taking sides at this stage. The Government officials may he right in endeavouring to check a certain spirit, hut it is the manner in which the offi-

rials go about tile discharge of their office. We should .say that deportation is a very serious stop to take without very adequate cause. Wo have in mind what those of a rebel mind are disposed to say in our own country, in Australia., even in England. But deportation, or even prosecution, i.s a very rare practice. The loquacious ones are allowed full limit. and very aggravating and disloyal are some of their utterances. The natives at Samoa are in the charge of Xew Zealand, and in that position the country should be no less considerate of the feelings ol the natives than it i.s of those of its own people, often in very serious instances. Xew Zealand has a mandate to carry out, and that must he done to the satisfaction of the world at large. It will he a very sad performance indeed if Xew Zealand fails to satisfy outside public opine n on this mallei'. Indeed that is more important than to please the people of the Dominion. Now that tho subject has been taken up by outsiders. Xew Zealand lias t > clear its name in this matter —for tho country, through its Government. is responsible for the acts of the Xew Zealand officials in Samoa. And the matter should be dealt with promptly. The obvious charges now being levelled at Xew Zealand should not he allowed to remain unanswered. The official statement of Mr*Nosworthv or even the Prime .Minister at this juncture, will not he sufficient, for pnffi lie satisfaction now. There must he an outside authority independent of the Government, and a Judge of the Supremo Court removed from all local or political bias should conduct the enquiry. Steps in that direction are most desirable if the good name of Xew Zealand is to be maintained throughout the world. That will he the happiest form of exoneration t'bo Government could hope for seeing the plight which has now been reached in regard to the Samoan situation.