SAMOAN AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1927, Page 1

SAMOAN AFFAIRS

A DAI IXISTRATOR’S REPORT. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. WELLINGTON, July 19. 'flic Samoan Administration report shows a debit balance of £7899 on the year’s operations. Tbe revenue inciucfed £20.000 subsidy from New Zealand and totalled £133,812. Revenue directly from the natives was £20,104 and expenditure on natives £71,308. Though imports exceeded exports by £4157 this adverse balance was caused by the usual December export shipment of copra and cacao being delayed until early in January, otherwise there would have been a favourable trade balance, about equal to that of fast year. Prospects for the ensuing year are particularly good, as the plantations nearly all show signs of fairly heavy crops. Xew areas of coconuts are coming into hearing. The cacao plantations have recovered from the. blow of last year and the trees are bear-1 ing well. All the rubber plantations, | excepting one owned by a private coni-1 pany, are being developed. Larger j area-, of cotton are being put under cultivation, and extensive planting of bananas has been carried out in preparation for proposed export of fruit to Xew Zealand. It is hopefully anticipated, therefore, that this will he a re; nrd year for trade. the Administrator describes the system of native political organisation and states that experience continues to show that the people co-operate with and approve of it, because they see its effectiveness in promoting their welfare and progress. AA'hen troubles which are likely to disturb the peace, order and good government of the natives arise the Administrator assembles a committee of faipules to investigate, collect evidence and advise him. By this means the best possible advice on native matters is obtained. The faiples have themselves no judicial powers.

" The only native opposition to this policy of control of the native race through their chiefs, I'aipilies and various native committees comes from a few who have been punished as a resnk of these investigations,” continues the Administrator. " They have recoiv. ed encouragement from a small number of Europeans in Apia, who, in order to gain influence over the natives, have openly expressed their desire to see the system abolished and all native matters dealt with in council, where the local mercantile community would have greater power and influence than the natives themselves. I’he native leaders are very appreciative of the existing organisation, the working of which improves year by year and enables the Samoans to control their own affairs through a system of committees in which nearly every chief and orator participates, and so prevents any one person exercising autocratic powers, while their decisions and suggestions, which are forwarded to the Administrator, keep the latter in closest touch with the opinions and needs of the natives ami their progress in every district. the smai'l local political agitation during the past year indicated that this territory is m, exception to the general rule that progress and change in every country are marked by a certain amount of opposition, which in Samoa comes from those persons who oppose the Government in its policy for (level-

opulent of the native race." Reference is made to the formation of the Citizens’ Committee, and the report declares that none of the high chiefs or political loaders took part in the agitation. "The leader of those natives who were induced to co-operate with the elected members in their political agitation is one ol the very few Europeanised Samoans in the territory, ami one who had been punished after being found guilty by tin* lligb Court of theft from natives of a large sum of money, also for attempting to degrade some of his own race by manufacturing intoxicating liquor and selling it to them.’’

There are 9!(i Chinese labourers ;'n the territory and they have generally maintained a good reputation for reliability as workers and behaviour. The European Planters’ Association lias urged the Government to import, cheaper labour, but the report states that experiences on New Zealand Government plantations, which are practically all making profits, prove that successful running of the plantations depends more upon skilful organisation and proper supervision of contented labourers than upon a plentiful supply oI so-called cheap labour. The present wage ol ,‘js per day for Chinese coolies is a reasonable wage for the daily task and cannot in fairness to the labourers he reduced.”