SAMOA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10274, 8 May 1919, Page 6

SAMOA

UNDER WHICH FLAG?

SUPPOSED PREFERENCE FOR, UNITED STATES.

The inhabitants of what was German Samoa say theirs is a land devastated by influenza and tho rhinoceros beetle. They look ' upon properous American Samoa, 40 miles away, and threaten to rebel against tho domination of New Zoal-and, according to private advices received by Mr John Rothschild, from Tutuila, American Samoa (says a San rancisco newspaper). According »o Rothschild's information, tho natives under New Zealand's rule can't see why influenza should havo taken one-fourth of their number and overlooked entirely the population of tho American islands. And they can't see, it is reported, why tho rhinoceros beetle threatens fco return tho New Zealand group to the land of brush it was, while that same insect has been exterminated m American Samoa. .„,.., Governor J. M. Poyer. of Tutuila, American Samou, is looked upon as a saviour by the natives. "When influenza broke out he established a successful quarantine, and not one person died. Ho took measures to combat tho swarms of rhinoceros beetles that threatened to destroy the vast coconut plantations. New Zealand had war on its hands when it took possession of Upolo, and the natives «™ 'o complain that he New Zealand made no effort to fight-the bettle. By way of showing how they reel, the natives have been singing tho following version of "Tho Star-spangled Banner," according to Rothschild's advices from Samoa:—

"In the South Pacific are two islands — Tutuila and Upolo; Tutuila under the American flag; Upoto under that of New Zealand. God has sent down upon the world a sickness, • And all the world is full of suffering The two islands are forty miles apart; On Upolo, the island of New Zealand, many are dead; On Tutuila, the Americanvisland, th«« is not one dead. Why ? In Tutuila, they love the men of their villages; •• In Upolo they, are doomed* to punishment and death. God blew tho Amerioan Governor and flag." Governor Poyer has been stationed at.Pago Pago for several years, and 'is expected to retire soon. It is reported *"» may hasten his return to the United States to make a personal report of conditions in the islands to President Wilson. NEW ZEALAND•VIEWPOINT.

The foregoing article was reprinted in the Honolulu "Star-Bulletin" recently. A few days later the following letter, Which states the case very fairly from the New Zealand point of view, appeared-in that journal over the signature "Tenakoe" :

j Sir,—ln your issue of the 18th inst there appeared an article headed in [ big type, "Samoans Favour American j Rule,""* which calls for some comment. The article In question is copied ftom ! a San Francisco newspaper, but originates from the German-Jew firm of Rothschild, of Pago Pago, which, for several years pasfc has been buying, through the United States Governor of Tutuila, the crop of copra grown by the natives of that island. This article states that, "according to Rothschild's information, tho natives under New Zealand's rule can't see why influenza should have taken one-fourth of their number and overlooked entirely the population of tho American islands. And they can't see, it is reported, why the rhinoceros beetle threatens to return the New Zealand group (i.e., former German Samoa) to the land of brush it was, while that same insect has been exterminated in American Samoa." _ , It goes on to say that "when influenza broke out, he (Governor Poyer, of Tutuila) established a successful quarantine, and not one person died. Ho jtook measures to combat the swarms of rhinoceros beetles that threatened to destroy the vast coconut plantations. New Zealand had war on its hands when it took possession of Upolo, and the natives axe said to complain that the New Zealandera made no effort to fight the beetle." Now, as to the coconut beetle whicn bores into the coconut trees: This was introduced to German Samoa about ten year 3 ago, probably from the Philippines, where, and also in Ceylon, it has been a curse for many years. That, is to say, tho beetle arrived in Samoa five years before the New Zealanders took possession. The Germans, despite their boasted science, wore unable to keep down the pest. Their ordinances regarding the beetle will be found in the "Verodungen die Bekaemfung des Nashornkafers" von. April 19th, 1911. The New Zealandera took possession ot Upolo about the end of August, 1914. Naturally, their first business was to look after tho Hun firms and individuals. After this was done, on December 19th, 1914, Colonel Logan, the British Governor, issued proclamation No. 6 in reference to the coconut beetle pest and to the rules to ho observed and carried out under tho inspectors appointed by tho Coconut Beetle Commission. Proclamation No. 19, of August 6th, 1915, has rofcrenco to the same-subject; proclamation No. 25 to insect, pesta and plant diseases; proclamation No. '2s on the same subject; and so on it goes. llewardß were o'fored and paid to the natives for. collecting beetles and larvae and eggs. A travelling moving picture show, went all around the isands, exhibiting films showing thei life history.of the beetle'and the best method of combating the pest. This was done in order to get tho native* Interested in olean culture of their little groves. What has been tho result of all the hard work that has been done by the Now Zealanders in this direction, H. J. Moors, the leading German-Amori-can storekeeper and planter of Apia, who is not prejudiced in favour of things British, wrote to 'the "Samoa Times." in April of Inst year to the following effect: "Every ono who observes can notice that the dreadful beetle plague which onca. threatened to ruin theso islands is now rapidly on the wane and the palms rapidly recovering." Tho same American storekeeper also pays a compliment to tho way in which the British rule Samoa. He says: "Forty per cent, of our population live on' Savaii under Mr R. Williams, who has ono foreign assistant, and it is pretty safo to say that excellent order prevails and considerable works are carried to completion without a hitch. No place in tho world is

under more sura control and few, if any, so cheaply ruled." And all this, while the war was in full swing. As a matter of fact, in British Samoa, tho natives are allowed to govern themselves through their chiefs and district councils.

As regards tho influenza. If the island of Tutuila (American Samoa) has' been so far fortunate as to escape this worJd-wido plague, the natives on that island may count themselves .lucky and may thank Governor Poyer for having been able to establish a quarantino soon enough to keep out the sickness. But because the wart of Samoa now held by tho Now Zealanders did not happen to keep out tho post, is one to believe that the natives there are all clamoring to bo annexed by the United States? Tho natives of Samoa are of la simple nature, but they nro not a lot of blithering idiots. Thev can all read and write and they could pscertain for themselves that although in this particular instance, American Samoa had managed so far to escape the influenza, yet in Hawaii, another part of the United States which is guarded by the United States Health service, the influenza has gained an entrance, and that also on tho United States mainland the plaguo has been slaying' its thousands.

It is such writings as those of Rothschild and his friends, due, no doubt, to commercial jealousy over the copra trade, which will do as much, perhaps, as the Bolsheviki, to blast tho hopes of a League of Nations and tho universal brotherhood of man. ■ ' TENAKOE. Honolulu, March 19th, 1919. P.S.—-Snee writing the above word has come to hand that tho rhinoceros beetle has arrived at Tutuila (American Samoa) and is reported to bo rapidly increasing.