The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1927. THE SAMOAN PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1927. THE SAMOAN PROBLEM.

Thk House dealt with the Samoan problem during the week. The Prime Minister asserted hi.s mastery in no uncertain manner with the result that the Bill was forced through the Lower House practically at the behest of Air Coates. Yet. reading between the lines there is the clear impression that had the Bill not been forced through 011 strictly partly lines involving the stability of the Government itself, it would have been amended very materially. Apart from the fact that several Reform members voiced words of caution if nothing more, and that newspapers ardently supporting the fortunes of Reform criticised the Bill and its proposals, we have the fact that a Minister offered some pertinent remarks that were virtually in opposition to the Prime Minister, and certainly a criticism of the policy being followed in Samoa. But it was all without effect, and the Bill in what is an objectionable form went through. It has not been made clear at any stage what is the overbearing offence of the Samoans to incur all this legislative notoriety. The Government at the outset took the extreme step of forcing deportation on the recalcitrant ones, and later sought legislative authority for so doing. It was a very extreme, as it was an irregular course

to follow, and rightly much criticism has been the lot of the Government. The Press, of Christchurch, has commented on the position very fairly, and outspokenly. Everybody in New Zealand. comments the Press, must he wondering wily the Reform and Liberal Parties voted solidly for a measure which is not self-evidently necessary and which in any ease violates tire principles of government in the Mandatory State and the social traditions of the mandated territory. That is all that need now lie said concerning the contents of the Bill. But something must he said concerning effect which the Bill may have upon the reputation of New Zealand. It is true that, as Mr Coates pointed out, the League of Nations cannot take away the mandate from New Zealand, which received its appointment from the Associated Powers, and the Associated Powers are not likely to lift s finger. Yet the methods by which the Dominion is discharging its trust will he very freely -discussed wherever men are interested in the problems of government, and it is hardly likely that the discussion will have a colour pleasing to the eyes of New Zealanders. The best that we can hope is that the new Act will he no more than an interim measure, and that its passage will he the prelude to a thorough overhaul of the Samoan Administration. AYe have said before, and it must he repeated, that the circumstances make it obvious that our Government and Parliament ought to he worrying at least as much about the Administration as about its critics. New Zealand has been in control of Samoa Tor several years, and the result- of it "has been a state of feeling which, according to the Government, calls for the establishment of a severe dictatorship and the application, of a policy which one of Air Coates’ own colleagues says will (ill the Samoan minds with doubt concerning the honesty and justice of New Zealand. A wise and tactful Administration would long ago have won the g todwill of the Samoans and made them proof against the operations of self-seeking conspirators, if such people really exist in Samoa. Thai is the main fact, and it cannot be got rid of by legislation the effect, and indeed the purpose, of which is to make impossible any criticism of the Administration, or. which is the .same thing, to make any critic liable to imprisonment and deportation without trial. The Administration, tit list. of course, have power lo enforce its authority. Now that it litis got- that power, and greater power limn it. ought to have, the Government and Parliament should enquiie fully into the manner in which I lie Administration is doing its work. A study of the problem in the light of Sir M. Piiint.re'.s speech makes the foregoing conclusion all the more neecs--1 sa ry.