OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 230, 29 March 1928, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

THE SAMOAN APPOINTMENT. ) At any time an honour, it may be considered doubly so to be appointed Administrator of Samoa at the present moment. Mr. S. S. Allen is to be congratulated on having been chosen to undertake a difficult task, one which those who know him will . realise was not sought for, but which when offered to him was accepted from the sense of duty. Had he any doubts of his ability to undertake the office then it would have been' declined. Criticism has been made of the appointment. Three main grounds are advanced. The first is that (under the conditions that prevail the selection should have been made from the Colonial Office. Setting aside the issue whether such a course would be practicable the critics advancing this reason overlook the fact that such would be a tacit admission of failure in the carrying through of the mandate given to this country and the absence of men in the Dominion to undertake such responsible duties. The second is that Mr. Alien has had no experience of governing native races. Which is true. Only time can answer this. The third 'is that Mr. A lien was a distinguished soldier during the war. Before the war he was a civilian, at the termination he resumed his civil life. We cannot see that military experience is of necessity a bar. There is no reason why it should not be a very great advantage. But it is a matter of the personal ecjuation. As a soldier Mr. Allen 'gained the esteem, affection

and respect of the men who served under him. It was not merely bravery or the absence of fear that won the confidence of the men. It was the feeling that he was above all things a jusf. tnan, impartial, considerate, carefully weighing up and balancing aV\ matters that came before him that gained for him their regard. May not the very traits of character that won for him tributes from his men gain for him the affection and respect of those whom be will govern ? This much must be admitted by those who dislike the appointment. He will approach the question from a new angle and with a mind free from prejudice. And that may go very far in the' provision of the solution.— Morrinsville Star.