AUCKLANDER’S ADVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1928, Page 1

AUCKLANDER’S ADVICE

RKTAINING PRESTIGE IN THE ISLANDS. AUCKLAND, March 15. An Auckland resident who has hud considerable experience in the Pacific Islands, and knows the native mind intimately, expressed concern this morning at the Samoan trouble, inasmuch as it affects the Dominion’s Alan- . date. “It is unthinkable that anything should occur to lessen our splendid reputation,” ho said. “1 notice that Mr Nelson is going to Geneva, but 1 fail to see what standing he can attain there. The committee will no doubt sift the evidence of the Royal Commission and form their own conclusions. “ As one who has lived amongst the natives t would like to express the opinion that whoever the new Adminsitrator may be, he should never attempt to address the natives in their own tongue. It almost invariably leads to loss of prestige. “When Sir George Richardson first went to Samoa everything went on smoothly, and I* can trace a lessening of ! discipline from the time-that the Adininistrator commenced to talk the Samoan tongue. The natvies give a mao working through an , interpreter credit of knowing more about tilings generally than he does know. \\ lien lie talks in the native language no matter how perfectly, they see through him quicker. I certainly think the Administrator would have been working oil safe lines if lie had refrained from speaking Samoan. Then, again, the natives do nothing in baste. A day. a week, or a month ahead is all the same to them. They are people of leisurely movement. Sir George has done remarkably well, but it is a matter of opinion whether he lias not tried to bring the necessary reforms about too quick. A gradual reform in the onditions should have been the policy. “ I Tiave often noticed, also, that a change in Government officers, even if, there has been no trouble, has 'forked good In the islands, because the new ' officials come with a fresli mana. and that is an all important point to the native