The Muddle In Samoa

NZ Truth, Issue 1213, 28 February 1929, Page 6

The Muddle In Samoa

* THE report of the special commission, which, investigated conditions m Samoa, makes sorryreading. Combined with the Mail agitation, which has led to serious trouble m the Mandated Territory, is the disquieting news of muddle and (presumably) extravagance m departmental administration. No one reading the published extracts from the main report can help being adversely impressed with the disclosures made therein. It would seem that, to a very great extent, lethargic incompetence — if not actual indifference — has been crippling the operation of many of the Samoan departments. Furthermore, the commission makes , no secret of the fact that some of the officials have been m Samoa far too long, with results that are not satisfactory. Sweeping changes are indicated and are to be made — not before they are required. But m criticising the Samoan muddle there are many factors to be borne m mind. The climate is conducive to laziness, and there is no gainsaying the fact that the tropics, when lived m for .a lengthy period, tend to sap . a man's ■ energy and induce a lethargic state of mind that loses application m the pursuit of detail and . general efficiency. While admitting- the existence — and effect — of these demoralising factors they, m themselves, do not justify the chaotic state of affairs that has been permitted to develop m the Territory. The root' causes are more deep-seated. What they are Jthe commission knows full well, although the Prime Minister has not seen fit to disclose the whole of the report. Nevertheless, sufficient has been disclosed to convince the general public that our administration of Samoa m the .past has left much to be desired. Apart altogether from the native controversy, as expressed m the Mau movement, the position, so far as -many administrative departments are con- . cerned, is little short of a disgrace. Indeed, it might quite fairly be asked: To what extent has the incompetence and lethargy of many of the departments been reflected m the native unrest? We are told that the Samoans had no complaints about the officials, but that haidly goes far enough. The 'point is that; 'if the European "bosses" advertised their letnargy, incompetence and indifference, it is not unreasonable to assume that the natives; — ever impressed by exampletook their cue from those m authority. This, of course, is not by any means the root cause of- > the Samoan unrest, but it may well huve been a contributing factor towards it. However one reads the scathing indictment, of Samoa, as prepared, by the commission, there is no escape from the fact that conditions m the Territory are about ns unsatisfactory as they poss.b'ly coui'J bo. It is to the credit of the Administrator that, he sought the fullest inquiry, and m future, with powerful Government backing, Colonel Allan will be m a position to .have a thorough house-cleaning: and to surround himself with officials who, m every respect, will administer their departments with credit to themselves and to the Dominion. • .' Two years m (he iropios is. ample for any European official. If the period of service is thus limited there will b€ every prospect of the work being done a.s-it should be, and the Taihoa attitude will not be the germ from which another scathing report will grow and flourish.