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Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1928, Page 2

The, situation in Samoa appears to be more or less complex still. A correspondent, writing from Apia last month says the news of the report of the Royal Commission 'appointed to inquire into tlie Samoan unrest was received very quietly, as far as could be judged. The Citizens’ Committee, naturally, was very disappointed. Although it was generally agreed that the case against the Government was very weak, it was not realised, of course, how woefully weak the case was until evidence was taken on oath. The natives do not seem to have changed much in their attitude and reports indicate that they intend to carry on just the same. There is no giving in at the moment. Recently two arrests by the police were resisted by Alan natives, who made a demonstration outside the polite station, threw stones, and behaved like hooligans. Later the same night a very cowardly assault was made on a native policeman. As he was on his way to duty at the Customs five or six natives attacked him with sticks, one using a knife. The man was badly knocked about, but his injuries are not of a serious character. News of these incidents soon went round, and numbers of natives. started to move into Apia. Matters have quietened down again, although some ugly rumours are floating now. Some excitement seems to

have arisen by a report being circulated that Mr Nelson was to he deported by the Tofua, and Mr Nelson himself had to allay the fears of a bunch of natives who came in, presumably, to resist tlie deportation. Apia is always full of rumours, and one cannot rely on everything that is heard ; hut there is no doubt of tho fact that the natives are not reconciled by the decision of the Rova! Commission. Some natives have actually gone over to the Man since the report of the Comniis--,in was published. The curious part of the whole affair is that these natives all know that what they are doing is wrong. Loyal natives find it difficult to stand out, especially in a village which has nearly all Man natives in it. They are just fed up and want to be with thoii- own people again. They cannot stand sitting on the other side of the fence waiting for the Government to make the country right, and so they pull in with the crowd so that they can enter into the village life and he one with the others. The strain has been too much, and it is a wonder they have stuck it so long. People at Vpia were in ninny instances surprised that only a decision came from the Commission. Many expected that there would be a recommendation of some kind, and are now wondering what, is going to happen next.