IN SAMOA.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1927, Page 3

IN SAMOA.

AV 110'S WHO ON TUF COMMITTEE.

MINISTER. TELLS HOCSI

WELLINGTON, July 22

A brief Who’s Who in Samoa, which was read in the House this evening by the Hon. .Mr Xosworth.v, .Minister for External Affairs, created a sensation.

Air Xoswort liy said that while he was in Samoa he- had been publicly invited by the lion. .Mr Nelson, M.L.C., chairman of the Citizens' Committee, to investigate the status of the chiefs associated with the Committee. He had aeeepted that invitation and had informed -Mr Nelson that lie would make enquiries, not only concerning the duels, but also ol tbc political pedigree of the other members of the Committee. lie said he woud read tile results of his investigations, so that the people of New Zealand would know with whom they had to deal. The details as read were;

o. r. Kelson, lmlf-caste, of SwedishSamoau pnrentage, with relatisos oi German 'blood one of whom. now in Samoa, fought in the ranks of the Gciinan Army in the Great 'War; naturalised as a British subject in 11)2-1; principal of one ot the largest mcicantilo firms, with a network of stores throughout the group and agencies throughout the world ; the largest buyer and exporter ot native copra; senior elected member of the Legislative Council; president of the Citizens’ Committee. Hon. A. Williams; European, British, married to Samoan wife, plumber, tinsmith, and general sheet, metal worker, second elected member ot Legislative Council.

Hon. G. E. L. Westbrook, European, British, married to native wile, trader, third elected member of Legislative Council; a constant contiibutoi to newspapers of the world, who has consistently criticised New Zealand’s administration since the enforcement of Prohibtion. In September, 1920, he addressed such a criticism to tlie secretary of the Overseas Club, London, which was referred to the Administrator for report. 1 lie then chief judge, the late -Mr J. E. Wilson, Stipendiary .Magistrate of New Zealand, submitted the following;—“I yesterday discussed with Air G. E. L. AVestbrook his letter to Air .T. E. Wrench, of the Overseas Club and Patriotic League. Air AVestbrook disclaimed any desire to misrepresent the position, and claimed that his letter was a fair criticism of the New Zealand administration. When I took his statements categorically lie had v of course, to admit that a number ot them were quite untrue. . . Ho line! written as fact wlmt was in reality rumour find surmise, where it was not within his knoweVdge untrue. . . He says that lie must criticise. Our discussion made it quite plain to me that when lie writes he loses liis sense of discrimination between fact and falsehood—that lie is more or Toss irresponsible. A. G. Smyth: European, British, no Samoan family ties, partner in the firm of Smyth and Cnrrutliers (the latter a half-caste), which lias just been purchased by Morris Hedstorm, Ltd., of Fiji.

E. W. Gurr: European, British, legal agent, journalist, Samoan interpreter, married to Samoan wife ; known to natives as the man who caused the Tan o le aso Tasi—“The one day war’’ (the last Samoan war) ; leit the territory during the German regime for American Samoa, was employed by the American Naval Administration on August 4th, 1900, as secretary to the Commandant, and also to act as Judge, and legal adviser, was dismissed in 190 S “ for•«4nilfeasance in office,” is now a prohibited immigrant to American Saj moa. An Auckland paper recently published a statement from Air Gurr In defence of himself. Air Gurr said lio had not been deported from American Samoa. I did not say he was deported, hut lie is a prohibited immigrant there. Air Gurr also says that “ He was dismissed for political reasons, his nationality (British) being the chief cause,” hut we are officially advised by the American Government that he was “ dismissed for malfeasance in office.’ He further says; “It is difficult to understand how unfounded charges against his past can affect his editorship of the ‘ Samoa Guardian,’ a paper which has been favourably commented on by one and all for its independence and dignity.” My comment on this is that a .tree is known by its fruits.”

Mr S. H. Meredith: Half east of Britisli-Sainoan parentage, land and commission agent, brother-in-law of Dago Lngo, who is leader of the Native section of the committee.

LagO’ Inigo: Formerly known as Afamasaga, Samoan, of chiefly rank, lived mostly in the vicinity of Apia; is a “Europeanised” Native with a good knowledge of English and civilised ways; was convicted and fined for manufacturing alcoholic liquor, ana selling it to his ow n people; was convicted and imprisoned for embezzling about £7OO of bis own district Church moneys; i,s now being asked to account for several thousands of pounds belonging to ft Native trading concern ; which he promoted and which failed; ex-Fai-pulc, who was dismissed from office, deprived of his title at the request of his family for degrading same, and ordered from Apia hack to his district village; again ordered from Apia to Apolima village; brother-in-law of S. H. Meredith, of the European Committee; leader of the Samoan members of the Committee; a prohibited immigrant to American Samoa.

Faumuina: Samoan, of high chieflc rank and of good repute; has resided for some years past -at Lepea., on the outskirts of Apia; has a knowledge of English, and has until recently heen conspicuous for leading the Lepea people in the village reforms advocated ■by the Administration. His village has electric light, good sanitation, has been completely remodelled, whilst Faumuina was himself the leader of the Fetu of Samoa, an'adaptation of the Boy Scout movement initiated by the present Administrator; has not yet achieved appointment as a Faipule or other Native authority. He stated in March last that his district had no complaints.

A minor chief of Apia, r where lately, he held an appointment in the Native Department as Court interpreter; was dismissed through inability to observe ordinary discipline; was one of the interpreters with the Faipule delegation to New Zealand in 1921-25, and his work was very unsatisfactory; of good repute. Tofaeono: Samoan official of the Agricultural Department, holding a respected title in Vaiala., a village on the outskirts of Apia; has little knowledge of the real aims of the Committee, as will lie, seen from the notes of my interview with the Committee at Apia on Juno lltli; of good repute. Tuisila: Samoan, ehief of Aleipatn, who has preserved an attitude of antagonism to the Administration for a considerable numlier of years; penalised, some time ago for wrongfully removing leper station equipment waiting to lie burnt to fivoid spread of infection,