Samoan Rule Assailed

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 83, 29 June 1927, Page 8

Samoan Rule Assailed

Sharp Exchange in House Mr. Holland Attacks Administration (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.') WELLINGTON, To-day., THAT all is not well in Western Samoa would appear from the statements in the House by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, who had a wordy passage in the early hours of this morning just when there appeared a prospect of the Imprest Supply Bill getting through the argument centring about the question of intrigue which is alleged to be festering in the Mandated territory and of which much has been heard from the Hon. W. Nosworthy and Samoan interests lately.

'WHEN Samoan interests conflicted ’* with those of others,” Mr. Holland said, “the welfare of the Samoan should predominate. He asked why he legislation of 1923. providing for Samoans’ own appointment of the Pono of the Faipules, which at present is not equitably representative of the villages, was not put into operation, and declared that the neglect of this was a direct dishonour of the promise of the then Minister, Sir James Parr. Thirty out of 33 districts had repudiated the Fono as appointed by the Administration. Mr. Holland said that correspondence to him from Samoa had been opened at Apia. Mr. J. A. Lee: That is spying. Mr. Holland: Well, this is one of the intolerable methods that should not be permitted in this or any other country. It is following too closely altogether to the Prussian methods. Mr. Coates said that he had investigated the position recently. The basis of Mr. Holland's speech might be taken from an article by Mr. S. E. Meredith, on the administration of Samoa. Mr. Holland: That is quite wrong. Mr. Coates: Well, the basis is there, and it is the same as the statement of the Hon. member in the Christchurch “Sun” recently. Mr. Holland: Well, I don’t vary my statements. Mr. Coates: It is just repetition. SELECTION OF FONO Records showed that the selection of chiefs for the Fono of Faipules was a long and thorough process on the part of the natives themselves, the Administrator having to decide finally whether the appointment would be made. Mr. Holland: What do you say about the 30 districts out of 33. Mr. Coates: I am not concerned, because all the appointments were unanimous. Mr. J. A. Lee: Are they elected for all time? Mr. Coates: Yes, but the Administrator has the power to depose them. Mr. Holland: In spite of unanimous election.

Mr. Coates: It has actually been done, because in one case a man was doing everything he could to undermine the Administration, and was not a credit to his race. You do not mention that. Mr. J. A. Lee: It should not be a life tenure. UNDERMINING LAW

Mr. Coates added that literature was being circulated in an endeavour to do everything possible to undermine law and order and against the interests of the natives themselves. It was never intended that an election of Samoans to the Legislative Council should be held whatever Sir James Parr might have said. Mr. H. T. Armstrong: What about the opening of correspondence?

Mr. Coates: Well, I don’t know if they have a censorship. Some of the correspondence we have received has a different motive. Mr. P. Fraser: Well, let us have it.

Mr. Coates: The motives are the copra trade and liquor, as well as a desire, on the part of a very few I think, to return to German rule. Mr. Fraser: I see no German names in the petition. Mr. Coates claimed that there had been increased revenue and trade, as well as greater population as a result of our administration. He awaited the return of Mr. Nosworthy for further information.