IN SAMOA.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1928, Page 1

IN SAMOA.

•) (By Telegraph—Per Press Association AUCKLAND, Peb. 21. J he ‘’Herald’s” Samoa corresponc 5- ent writes from Apia, February 17tl political situation is quiet, a y though there are signs that the coni; ” try is getting tired of the impossibl e situation. The boycott of stores i t being worked, but it does not seei: e to be worrying the people to an. - great extent. Various devices nr 1 used to get bully beef. TTie Admin s istration made advances to the Alai committee for a conference to settl the differences. Great expectation were held but at the last minute th discontents refused to come forward - There is still, the prospect of a meet e ing. It is believed that a conferenc 1 will bring matters to a head, witl 1 every prospect of a settlement. Th< r difficulty has been to bring the par - ties together. The Mini people at th. - moment seem to be following the oh 2 formula—“ Don’t have anything to ch . with the Administration.” If once contact is brought about well informed people say a settlemen will soon be reached. ! POLICE INSPECTOR'S REPORT. AUCKLAND, Feb. 20. I Having been delayed in Samoa for ; - year on account of the trouble tlier - .Mr A. L. Braishy, inspector in chargi i of police and prisons in AVesteri Samoa, arrived in Auckland by the _ Tofua to-day on furlough. Air Tiraisb; 1 was formerly attached to the Defeats - Department in Auckland, and has beci , in the islands for nine years. Ques ; tinned concerning the effect that tin . despatch of the warships Dunedin am Diomede to Samoa would have on tin troubled territory the visitor, who was unaware of the happening until hi) > ship touched at Auckland, said il 1 would put things on a proper footing - His only surprise was that the develop l meat had not occurred sooner. Still another view is expressed in r ; letter to an Aucklander received fron , a friend in Apia, who strongly sup . ports the official attitude in the trouble s in Samoa between the administration and disaffected Europeans and natives, • “ I lie natives who are supporting the -Man haven’t the slightest idea what I the argument is all about.” states the • writer, “ and it is rather pathetic t<: > see how propaganda has influence! • some of the chiefs whose word is law i with their followers. The two partie) t of natives arc about equally divided, .Mail and -Male. The Administrator b getting them together shortly to talk over their grievances which, in my opinion, are non-existent, but the European cabal continually stirs up the copra and liquor issues.” The writer goes on to say that Mr Nelson and his friends stood for vested interests, that they boasted that they hud got rid of Logan and Tate, and also boasted that they would get rid of Richardson. General Richardson appeared to keen fit and well, in spite of the strain of his difficult task to control the situation without bloodshed. lie was working hard to bring about peace and unity before giving up the reins of administration, but in the writer’s opinion if General Richardson left Samoa before this was accomplished the simple and unreasoning natives who had not joined the Man would construe his departure as a victory for Mr Nelson and the Mau, as Mr Nelson bad told them he would obtain a change of government for them. The Administrator had called a meeting of the .Man committee and faipules for February, and if they did not settle their troubles then the writer expected that the General would probably use the New Zealand police he had sent for and, if necessary, impress the disaffected natives with a show of force by sending for a warship. As a matter of fact many of the Europeans and loyal Natives had expressed the opinion that the Administrator had been over-lenient in dealing with the situation, and that he should have settled the trouble as the Germans would have settled it, with armed force. Messrs T. Hutton and .1. Don, two Government officials who have been affected by retrenchment in Samoa, are also visiting New Zealand, but expect to be returning later. They Were reluctant to comment upon the Samoan situation, but pointed out that publicworks were at a standstill as a result of the refusal of the natives to payrates and taxes. STORES FOR, AVAR SHIPS. AUCKLAND. Feb. 21. An expected departure from Auckland at an early date is the Admiraltyoil tanker Nucula, for Samoa. 11l addition to having a large quantity of oil fuel on board for the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede, the Nuvula is also loading stores to take to Samoa for the two warships. The tanker is berthed at Devonport, and on Thursday the vessel will sign on a crew and later she will fake her departure. MR NELSON’S APPEAL. AVELLTNOTON, Feb. 21. ••I consider the despatch of warships to Samoa a very unwise move, which could only have been dictated by a military mind. Mv purpose in coining to AA ellington was to consult counsel, and through him to offer the Government my assistance in the present emergency. My counsel has made this offer but it has been ignored by the Prime Minister, so in these circumstances I have despatched the following radio to Mr Baxter, Counsel for the Mau at Apia: ‘Please inform Samoans that I entreat them to preserve peace at all costs.’ This is onlv following the line of policy which I have adopted, and I hope the Samoan people will continue to preserve peace, despite intimidation and further repressive measures.” Mr Nelson leaves this afternoon for Auckland, en route to England. . PREMIER’S REPLA'. AVELLTNOTON. Feh. 21. The Prime Minister’s comment was very brief. “It is a matter for regret,” he said, “that Air Nelson’s proffered good offices were not available many months ago. I have received no communication from him regarding recent events in Samoa.” ]n connection with the Hon. Nelson’s statement of a proffer of help regarding the Samoan situation, the Prime Minister (Hon Mr- Coates) now makes the following statement, winch is to supersede all previous statements by him to-day. . The latest statement by the Hon 0. F. Nelson has been handed to the press. It contains the allegation that an offer made by him to assist the Government in the present Samoan trouble was ignored. The reply of the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) is that he knows of no such assistance being offered. “I know of no such assistance being; offered,” said the Prime Minister to-

night when tho lion. Nelson’s statement was referred to him. “I do know, however, that Sir John Findlay, Counsel for Mr Nelson, rang up one of iny secretaries intimating that lie wanted to sec me. 1 did not hear from Sir John Findlay again. As far as Mr Nelson is concerned he made no attempt to approach me as far as I know,”