The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY JANUARY 10, 1930. SAMOAN DEVELOPMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY JANUARY 10, 1930. SAMOAN DEVELOPMENTS

samoan developments. Thi ' Government, very properly, lias taken a serious view of the late sliootme; at Samoa. The recalcitrant natives Hut, out of hand, and it is difficult to say where such license would lead if not checked effectively. Both the late Government and the present Government have pursued a conciliatory policy. 1 lie natives were given every oppot tunit.y to meet the authorities and clear up the situation. They elected to stand aloof and defy constitutional authority, in that attitude there has been some European countenance to the defiant attitude of the Samoans, and the feeling is extant that this form of approbation has encouraged toe natives to defy the operation of the civil law in Samoa, and be governed by their own organisation—the Man. I his of course is carrying the situation beyond the bounds of reason if constitutional authority is to be respected. Nevertheless the patience shown by the Government past and present has been most conciliatory, and it is difficult to know what more could have been clone to restore gopd relations short of submitting entirely to the wliims of the natives. The loss of a life sent to defend and uphold authority has proved the breaking point, and the Government has now determined on a definite course of action. The Man is to lie dispersed and tbo offenders are lo he arrested. The invitation to do this quietly has been extended, and reasonable time has been given for that purpose. At the end of the period set, no doubt there will be the force availaide to impose the behest of the Government. A warship is now snoeding to Ramon and any necessary demonstration ol force required can then he made. There is always great difficulty in handling natives, 'and those difficulties are increased when Europeans give countenance lo the native attitude There can. however, bo no question ns to the wisdom and justice of the British with native populations, and if the Samoans were belter ad vised they would be readv lo accept the proper authority which New Zealand is empowered to put on them under the mandate to govern the territory. Sir Joseph Ward has stated that Tin* Man has not any real grievances, and nothing of a concrete nature has been put forward. The door has been

wide open for action hy the Samoans if they wished to do so. Instead, the recalcitrants have elected to stand apart, and to defy authority. That attitude) was [patiently endured over many months, hoping no doubt that wiser counsels would prevail with the natives. Matters are now definitely precipitated, and some degree of force will no doubt be used to uphold the law and maintain , authority. In the end, it is the only means by which peace and good government can be secured, seeing that the natives are not amenable to reason, or to the taking ol the sensible course open to them over the past year and more. The circumstances are of course regrettable, hut the Government would lie lacking in its public duty if it did not at this stage seek to establish law and order beyond reproach.