WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

SAMOAN SITUATION. TIIF. NEW ADMINISTRATOR. (Special to “ Guardian.”) \Vellington, Aian-h 2:1. 'J'lie appointment, of Mr S. S. Allan, of Alorrinsville, as successor to Sir George Richardson in Samoa seems to lie meeting with very general approval among those who know the new Administrator at all intimately. His personal qualities and his war record appear to he heyond reproach, and he has had just the kind of experience that should lit him for the satisfactory discharge of his new duties. That he is shouldering very grave responsibilities may be judged from the statement made by the Prime Minister yesterday which not only discloses an extremely critical state of affairs, hut also implies that the position may become considerably worse before it becomes much better. l.t will he no reflection upon the retiring Administrator, however to say that his successor has comparative youth on his side and all the knowledge and experience of his predecessor at Ids disposal. No doubt Sir George Richardson's trip to Geneva is desirable, even necessary, and it is being assumed it does not mean another permanent upon the henvilv laden taxpayers. THE MAX. In the course of an editorial tins morning the •• Dominion " extends onlv a (ptaliliod welcome to the new Administrator. "'He i- a lawyer, with a brilliant university career at Oxl on and distinguished war service behind him.” it says. "In 1922 ho was a candidate for political honours, hut was tumble to dislodge Mr Poland horn his scat in the Ohineimiri electorate, those personal details do not, however. reveal the possession of the very special qualifications necessary lor the successful administration ot a troubled territory, hut if the Government's estimate of his character is sound he should prove to lie a capable and successful administrator. In normal circumstances such an appointment would occasion very little public concern. Hut the circumstances arc not normal, and with a public very critically watching the future course ot events, the new Administrator and his methods are likely to he studied with considerable interest.” .This is faint praise coming from such a source, and the Prime Minister evidently has taken into his own hands an appointment of very great consequence. MR. NELSON’S PROTEST. The “ Evening Post ” is not going to he hurried into a pronouncement upon Mr Allan’s qualifications for the high office to which he has been appoTntod; hut meanwhile it lias something to say concerning Mr Nelson’s lament over " the partisan Press of New Zealand,” which really has been very generous to the instigators of the revolt in Samoa. “It was, ol course, it says. “Mr Nelson who organised the Man. and it is he who now tells the Sydney Press that ‘the redress of grievances is hound up in the question of deportation.’ Tint apart from this question all the grievances that- Mr Nelson. Ins friends and his followers, whether white or brown, had been able to imagine were duly presented u> a judicial body to whose competence and fairness he has himself testified. Ihi findings of that body were a TOO per cent in favour ol the Administi atoi. and it also found Unit, he was justified in concluding that either the Man otin; Administration must gi\o away.’ This, presumably, is the case Nil George Richardson carries to the League of Nations. MASSEY COLLEGE. There is a growing feeling hero that u good deal of public money has been sunk in the Massey Agricultural College that a great deal more will hr sunk before the institution east male any adequate return for the expenditure upon its establishment and administration. How far the Government is directly concerned in this undertaking has not yet been clearly explained, hut the Prime Minister has announced that the State is behind the College Council and that nothing is to he spared in making a success of the college. The papers to-day contain a long list of additional appointments to the staff of the establishment, including young men from English and Australian universities, whose qualifications are indicated by many capital letters after their names. May he New Zealand, with its expenditure of four millions a year upon primary and secondary education and its four university college has not yet turned out men capable of filling such positions, but the Government critics are declaring that the authorities have simply turned up their noses at the local products.