IN SAMOA.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1928, Page 4

IN SAMOA.

TENSION IN SAMOA. HON. O. F. NELSON. INTERVIEWED. AUCKLAND, March 10. "The present tension in Samoa cannot go on. Something must give, and when that happens there wil be touble.” This was the parting observation of the Hon O. F. Nelson, who left by the Maunganui to-day for Sydney. Ho will leave for San Francisco by the Sierra on March 31, and expects to be in Europe where lie will endeavour to present, his case before the League of Nations Council at Geneva early in May. “The Press reports from Apia yesterday,” said Mr Nelson, “should cause everyone with a sense of the responsibility of the sacred duties of New Zealand’s trusteeship over Samoa to pause and think. It is reported that Apia is quiet because the Man is dispersing, but that “loyal” natives arc becoming aggressive. The Press .reports conic from official quarters, but nothing is said of what steps arc being taken by the authorities to prevent the aggressiveness of the loyal natives from becoming a menace to tlio peace and good government of the territory. Any one who has taken the trouble to study the progress of events in Samoa cannot help to detect a deliberate attempt by the Administration to set one section of the Samoans against, the other to cover its face. The Administration lias not hesitated to adopt every conceivable means to justify its action, but to work up a cockfight of Samoans is stooping to the meanest form of expediency. “If civil war among the Samoans is the outcome of the present trouble, every sel(respecting New /ealandei will have cause to he justly ashamed.” Mr Xelou discussed also the, charge that, his linn had .supplied uniforms for the Alan police. On learning in November, ho said that, material to the value of CIS 15s had been ordered for the Ainu police he personally countermanded the order an offered it to the Commissioner of Police as uniform material for the regular police. The oflvr was not accepted, and subsequently the material was bought in small lots by various individuas. Not until Intel was it revealed that these purchases were made on behalf of the Ainu police similar material, he was informed, had been purchased from other stores in Apia. Thus it had been seen that the Administrator’s .charge against >him was most misleading. H.Af.fl. DUNEDIN RETURNS. WELLINGTON. Alarch 16. The cruiser Dunedin arrived iioni Samoa to-day bringing dispatches from the Administrator to the Government covering events up to Sunday last. Mr Coates stated this afternoon that he was not yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the position in Samoa, and doubted whethoi lie would he able to do so before tomorrow, as it would take some time to get the facts together and give them thtf necessary consideration. No decision has yet been come to with regard to the successor to General Richardson, who it is understood, leaves for Geneva at tlie end of March.