SAMOAN AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1927, Page 4

SAMOAN AFFAIRS

discussion r.v the house. MEMBERS’ VIEWS. In the House .Mr C»Kmii (Ratigitikei) ill the Government could have cased the [tosition considerably il' they liad fixed a date lor the discussion of the papers laid on the table. No one knew uliat was in the papers, because they had as yet no opportunity of reading them, lie had opinions on the Samoan question at present, but iliose opinions might be upset alter reading the papers, and he did not want to speak on false promises, lie wanted all the facts, and so he urged the Government to be sensible, and let the House know when it could

discuss the papers. .Mr Forbes (Header of the Nationalist Party) said that, in view of the statement hy fsir Joseph (.‘limithers ho was disappointed at. the pcrfunotort survey of the position made hy the Minister. He oonsidered that the .Minister should have taken up the points made by Sir .Joseph Carrnyhers and replied to them. ApI latently lie took a light-hearted view of the matter, and disposed of it in a light-hearted manner. He did not wish to see Samoa heroine the football of party politics, and for that reason the .Minister should have been more definite, and explicit in his .statement. He advocated a thorough enquiry into the position in Samoa, because the House would not, approve of an ironhand policy unless it was absolutely necessary. If it was found that such a policy was absolutely necessary, then he thought the House would support the Government.

Mr Lysnar (Gisborne) said the Go\eminent should he very careful not to create a false impression about Samoa. Personally, he had no faith in the Minister, for if lie treated the poor Samoans in the same way as he treated others, then he (Mr T.ysnar) pitied them. There should ho no right on the part of any 'Minister to deport anyone without trial. Tt was that and nothing else that in used the bloody Poverty Bay massacre by Te Knot i.

"Ur .Howard (lOhris-tehmch South) agreed with the last speaker that the wrong man had been sent to Samoa to smooth . out the difficulties. The Government might as well have sent a until with a bucket ot benzine to put out, a fire, lie urged the Prime Minister to take hob! of this alfair. or wo might let it drift into such a position that it would ‘become the worst advertisement New Zealand had ever had in the eyes of the world. Mr IV i I ford (Hutt) said the difficulty was that the House was not m possession of the charges mode against Hie Samoans who were being deported. When the House knew that it would lie time to consider the defence the Government could put up lor its administration. Now that lie knew a Bill was coining down, be iniild suspend his judgment until lie bad read the papers ,because New Zealand bad a great responsibility in this matter. Mr Vfi tell (Wanganui) -aid he would never approve of the principle of deportation without trial. He suggested the sending of Sir Apirana Ngnta. or some Judge et inr Native. ’Hand Court who undersl id the Polynesian mind, to enquire into grievances in Samoa. If that were done ;te thought peace would scon he restored. Mr ,). A. Bee (Auckland East). Mill. G. 11. Mason (Eden) and Mr Fraser (Wellington Central) made an appeal to the Government to lay all the cards on the table. MI.NT ST l-l! K El’Ll ES.

11l reply the Minister .aid that when he reached Samoa he notified throiigli the Press that lie was prepared to meet residents and hear their grievances. Not a single member of the Citizens’ Committee came to see him. If that committee had published a repork. Unit lit- was going to meet the people on any particular day they had no authority ( > do so. If, then, large numbers of people* were disappointed, it was not his fault. A [mint had been made of the Chief Justhe sitting m the Legislative Council. He did that only in the absence of the Administrator and that was only twice in three years. Outside the Citizens’ Commit-

lee t lie rt* was nr> troll Mo in Sumo:!. Tin 1 statement (lint there wore six thousand people at n demonstration against" him was a gross exaggeration. Xu chief had boon deported. They had only been shifted from one island to another. The real trouble was that there was not room in Samoa for General Richardson, or any other representative of the New Zealand Government and Mr Nelson, who was expecting to return to Samoa as Administrator. XI r Holland: But of what is he guilty? Mr Nosworthy: Tsndorntining the authority of ' tho Administrator. Mr Holland: But what are they

doily.' ? Mr Noswort iiy: All sorts of tilings The Samoans, ho added, were a von 111 n(i rare, lint were easily intlueneei and misled. They had heen misled hi Europeans. All they required was li ho left alone and freed from political intrigue. Tjhc papers were laid on the tahle and ordered to he pvintetl. SAMOAX COMMENT. (“ Christehureh Press.”). Cnfortunately the Administration at Samoa has resolved that what it has to face is a I indy of discontent that causes “ political unrest ” —that it lias to face, hostile, and. it mav he. unfair criticism—and that the best way to deal with it is not by wisdom and good management to discredit it, but by arbitrary action to suppress it. It will take a good deal more than any opinions yet expressed by the Adminstration and the Government to persuade the people of New Zealand that deportation. and iinprisinnmont without trial are the best means of restoring jK'aee to Samoa. The responsibility of the Government is a heavy one. Samoa is not New . Zealand territory’s affairs as the trus- j fee of the League of Nations and every New Zealander is anxious that our ad- j ministration shaH do us honour, and shall give no excuses to the .Empire’s enemies for an attack upon ns or upon . the Empire as the guardian of native races. Mr Coates seems to he willing to refer the dispute lit*tween the Administration and it critics to a Commission or a Committee of Parliament. lie will he wise if lie does seek the judgment of an independant tribunal which ought to include a Supreme Court Judge and some competent and understanding expert sii.li as Sir A. T. N'gata. The “strong arm” policy iavoured by the Administrator and the Government may really he the liest. hut this is not all certain ; and if it iails, the eonsquoneos of failure will he very disagreeable.