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Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1928, Page 2

Tiikhk is a good deal of faint praise otlercd bv the public press on the appointment of Colonel S. S. Allen ns Administrator ot Samoa. Those who served under the officer in the war give him their great praise, for he made a high reputation as a soldier on active service. He had a personality adapted to the occasion, and v.on th" i v.'bb'uoo and effeetion of those about him. Ih,re will ho differing conditions in Bnmon. and there may not he the opportunity. the close touch over there, for the exorci-o of any intimate l •rsonality. Mr Allen goes to a difficult task, but lie goes with the good will of the people and the praise of those who knew him ic well in civilian life, as thrive who knew him in soldier life. Sir George Richardson also was a soldier of high repute, and his failure in Samoa, is evidenced by the present impasse. The matter is one of policy rather than personality, so far as can he judged, and Mr Allen if lie is to succeed may have to begin bv undoing things. The native mind is often difficult to win. Just now there is a grudge behind it. and that requires to he removed. Rut it must he a wholesale removal, because the Aran, the native organistion, is a composite body, and will require some convincing. The Prime Minister regards the 'osition as serious without indicating the degree or causes for the diffieult and delicate situation which has arisen. The trouble is attributed to different causes from time to time., and these have been aggravated in the unlive mind by the deportations. Tn respect to the latter matter Mr Nelson's Tilluence counts and it would not he surprising if his case and that of the others who were deported will be flic ■'.■al test on which something of an amicable settlement may be reached. il is not proposed nor in tended that force should he used. On chat account Mr Allen has to pursue an entirely pacific policy. But it is evident he must to some extent at least revise the policy ol his predecessor who failed to win the confidence of the natives. The deportation of the natives without trial though no doubt in accordance with local custom, is worthy of revision. It is a practice hardly in keeping with British traditions or ideas of justice. Perhaps Mr Allen’s war experience in handling men may he useful to him. for his record in that respect appears to he all to the credo ot his heart and head. The attitude of the .Man appears to lie the mainspring of the position. There is a -late oi affairs there which Mr Coates Inis declared to he impossible. That condition has to he ended, and a new •inter brought in. The good-will of the natives as a whole has to he captured. Probably it will he a ease for personality. a factor credited to Mr Allen, "bile Ironi all accounts he has an open mind on the general problem, not having any experience with a native people. If useful common sense will help. Mr Allen, with a trained legal mind should go some way in influencing the natives, and that gained, the chief harrier to a .settlement should he overcome.