Small But Noisy Element in Samoa

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 47, 18 May 1927, Page 10

Small But Noisy Element in Samoa

POPULAR ADMINISTRATOR N.Z. RULE BENEFICIAL there is a small but noisy element doing its best to undermine the Administrator’s work, there is no doubt about the popularity of Sir George Richardson. “Witness of this was the magnificent welcome given to him on his return to Apia after serving on the New Hebrides Commission.” The Rev. F. B. Redgrave, general secretary of the New Zealand Anglican Board ol! Missions, who returned from an extended tour of the islands last evening by the Tofua, made these remarks in paying a tribute to the present control of Samoa. That the New Zealand administration of Samoa is beneficial to the natives is easily seen by the large proportion of healthy children in every village, he said. Compulsory Inosculation has made the Samoans entirely free from yaws, ring-worm and other skin diseases which are so prevalent among the natives of the Solomons, New Hebrides and other Pacific Islands.

The teaching of hygiene plays i Important part in the education of the natives and the result is seen in that the native population is now increasing by about 4 per cent, a year. “I visited some of the cocoanut plantations which are the property 'f the New Zealand Government,” i .id Mr. Redgrave, “and I was struck by the work which is being done n them. An increasing amount of land Is being devoted to rubber and cocoa growing.” The Samoans give very generously for Church purposes, continued Mr. Redgrave, and the work of the different denominations is entirely selfsupporting. The majority of the natives belong to the London Missionary Society’s Mission, which has a fine college where there are 130 students training for the native ministry.