SAMOAN SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1932, Page 8

SAMOAN SITUATION

i NECESSITY EMPHASISED.

for mutual understanding. ' LONDON, April 4. The Rev. R. Bartlett, who has spent a number of y£ars in/ New- Guinea, gav© an address on the Samoan situa-j lion ..at'a meeting 6f the . League oh Nations Union held at Leamington.’ He ieihphasiset|ftlie necessity lor mutual understanding and trust between nations. , As reported in a local newspaper, Mr Bartlett said that never in the history of the world, had there been such a universal desire for peace on the pait of civilised people, as there was to-day. Slowly, but surely, they were coming to realise that force of arms was out of date and useless, and it had now to give why to mutual good will and understanding. He and his wife had spent a number of years in New Guinea among a tribe of savages who had a reputation for being surly. Howevei, this reputation was found to be unjustified. These people became his friends, because, mutual understanding existed between tjiem. Similarly, it was understanding, and the work of the missionaries which brought a tribal feud to an end, when the Navy had failed by a display of force; Turning to the situation in Samoa, Mr Bartlett outlined the history of evetiWiri that country from the time it was mandated to New Zealand, and gave a. graphic description of the trouble between the Samoans and the Government officials of New Zealand. He showed how the trouble among the natives had its roots in the easy, simple life which they led. This gave them plenty c-f opportunity for sitting and talking, which, led to trouble. Ninety-five per cent, of the natives were against the New Zealand mandate. snd the various officials sent out by the Dominion met with opposition until the missionaries took a, hand in the affair.

Mr Bartlett concluded by saying that 'the system of sending a new Governor out to Samoa every three years would never bring peace to the country, as it was impossible for a white man to understand the psychology of the natives and gain their sympathy in that period. Peace and understanding came through’ ilie London Missionary Society,’’which had been there for a century ' ' '■ V