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Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1930, Page 4

The regrettable affray at Samoa has not been clearly nor fully explained as \et, hut it would .appear that matters are again normal. The effect of the encounter will not, however, die down for some time, and no doubt there will he the fullest investigation into the position. On the face of it. it would Appear that the Man organisation was again defiant and the leaders o'ectod to ignore the instructions from the authorities. Actually there is not a strong militant force in Samoa to hack the authorities, and it may .be that, fact encouraged the Man to undertake its parade, and to assail the Police when an attempt was made to a nest some members of the Man who were wanted by the authorities. It is significant that the arresting party was armed only with batons, and it was not till the police was attacked in force by some 2'K) Man .supporters who used sticks and stones, that reinforcements "ere sent armed to,assist the arresting party. A constab'e was struck down with an axe. and in the shooting 1 which followed six Samoans met their death, including the Chief Tamnsese, who 'had lately been confitted in gaol in New Zealand for a civil offence against tne Samoan authorities. In February last, Sir Joseph Ward, in

a considered statement on the Government policy, laid it down that it could noU tolerate or negotiate with any movement that is openly subversive of good government in the Territory. Unfortunately that is exactly what the Man movement is, and very rightly it has been ignored as a force to countenance. The Government has left wide the door for proper negotiations to proceed, but the natives encouraged by outsiders to an. unnecessary extent, has remained defiant, and that attitude is still maintained. The Government has again declared its intention of upholding law and order to the full extent of its authority. It is well that extra force is not required. Small as the present force is, only some thirty Europeans, and about the same number of natives, it is satisfactory to find the position is in hand, and it seems evident that it was only the defiant and aggressive attitude of the extremists in the Man party which caused the present trouble. It is to lie hoped that tne present clash will lead to a better understanding of the situation, and to the necessity for the natives to respect and obey the law. A state of open defiance is not going to help. The authorities have shown patience and sympathy all along, and there is the desire, to smooth out the situation, if only the natives were more sensibly advised as to their general demeanour.