The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1929. THE SAMOAN MANDATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1929. THE SAMOAN MANDATE.

| Apparently the’ Mandates Commission or the League of Nations has not offered any comnfent of special interest as a result of its scrutiny of the annual repox t on the mandated territory of 'Western Samoa. According to the cabled message on the., subject from Geneva _ it satisfactorily • resolved the apparent contradiction between the .Hidings of the Royal Commission of 1928 and the latest i-epoi t on the*territory to come before it, which was, or course, that. to the Parliament of the Dominion during the recent session.' The inean.ng of tiiis statement is not altogether clear, but possibly it signifies that the Mandates Lbm.misaion was ,■satisfied that the contradiction was more apparent than real. The annual report prepared for the information of the League of Nations, a contemporary points out, is largely a statistical document, and very little was said in the report of ties year on the subject of native affairs in a general way. It contained the statement, however, that a settlement of the native unrest has not yet been realised with the result that the activities of the Native Department have been greatly hampered, while there is a deficiency in native tax revenue owing to the unrest and passive resistance, though this deficiency is less severe than in the previous year. The Mandates Commission was evidently interested in hearing the' observations on the Samoan report that were offered by the High Commissioner, who spoke at length on the subject at its invitation, and is reported to have said that the success of the mandate system depended largely upon the patience shown by the Mandates Commission itself. Sir James Parr had also alluded, as well he might, to the patience shown by the mandatory Power in this particular ease, and it is obvious that upon the continuance of the exercise of patience in that quarter the success of the Samoan experiment mainly depends. By the disaffected section of the Samoan people the attempt is being made to wear down the patience of the Administra- V lion. The New Zealand Government is prepared to consider representations which may bo made to it on behalf of fl>e Samoan malcontents, but it requires that there shall in the first instance lie a recognition hv the Map of the authority of the Administration. Tics is no more than a reasonable condition, and certainly it is a condition which the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations must be expected to regard as necessary. in view of the belief expressed by it twelve months aco that the Administration in Samoa had not acted (irmly enough with the resisting section of the native population. Tt is unfortunate that a way has not yet boon found to dissipate an atmosphere, born of the native unrest, which has boon hanging too long over the mandated territory and must he a hindrance to its prosperity, Patience, is.

after all, a negative quality, and it is very desirable that, in the exercise 01 it the Administration should find, il possible, some inspiration that would enable it to appeal successfully to the Samoan min i, lor the peculiar quality ol which a certain allowance must no d.ubt be made The Samoans must, alter all. bo capable of understanding that the Administration exists for ■ their benefit, and that it is only reasonable and necessary that they should submit to its authority and not allow themselves to be led in a contrary direction by persons who may be actuated by interested motives There is, however, an organised movement to keep the unrest in evidence, and the grievances as believed to exist are being kept before the public. While this lasts the agitation has some effect, and probably is the main cause for l lie Samoans mninta, ning the stand and tlieir somewhat deimite attachment to their local organisation known as the M an.