“Samoa for Samoans”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 104, 23 July 1927, Page 13

“Samoa for Samoans”

Hon. W. Nosworthy Defends Policy of Banishment and Deportation POV/ERS FOR ADMINISTRATOR (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. “ IWE are not going- to vacillate; we are going- right on!" 7» Thus the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, conveyed to the House of Representatives to-day the policy of the Government upon the troubled question of Samoan administration. Almost every aspect of this contentious subject was reviewed from all sides of the House during the debate on the second reading of the Samoa. Amendment Bill. The Government had decided that the policy pursued in the past had been the best in the interests of the natives themselves, Mr. Coates said, and on digression from the definitelydesigned operations would be made. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, warned the Government that his followers and he himself would fight the measure to the last clause and the last word, and declared that the Government was following upon German methods of administration in the islands. After a long sitting the second reading of the Bill was carried at 2.35 a.m. by 43 votes to 13.

jy£R. COATES, in moving the second reading ot the Bill, said he could best describe the Bill as providing for deportation of Europeans in Samoa, and banishment of Samoans within their own territory. A distinction was made between the two. The method of application provided for the giving of notice by the Administrator to any person to show cause why he should not be deported. After the Administrator had satisfied himself that there was sufficient cause for him to take action, he might approach the Governor-General-in-Council in order to have effect given to his recommendations. Providing that he had the consent of the Governor-General-in Council, the Administrator might then put his decision into operation. The remainder of the Bill was necessary machinery. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch

South): Would the hon. gentleman explain where he gets power under the mandate to do aJI that? Mr. Coates: We have the power. I do not propose to be side-tracked, or to deal with legal questions. Those are matters for the Attorney-General, but we are acting with full knowledge of what our powers are. The Prime Minister proceeded to give examples of other countries which had adopted similar courses —the United States, France, Germany, Spain. South Africa, Australia, India, Egypt. All had found it expedient to have powers of the kind proposed by the Government. There were grave possibilities in the position that had arisen in the islands, the agitation having brought the administration into conflict with other interests. New Zealand’s reputation as a wise and faithful trustee was at stake, and the Dominion had to see that this reputation was upheld throughout the. world.

PROGRESS OF ISLANDS

Notwithstanding the loss of life in the recent epidemic, the population of Samoa was increasing, and last year’s growth was a record, Mr. Coates went on. It was the desire of the Government to see that the medical, educational and public facilities that had been accorded the natives by the administration should be maintained. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikeij: It is all part of your job. Mr. W. Parry: What relation has this to the Bill? The Prime Minister said this showed what had been done in Samoa. Mr. H. E. Holland: With deportations. Ml-. Coates: I am sorry this is wearying the House, Mr. Speaker. (Reform protests, and Labour laughter). But I want to show what has been done. Labour members continued to interject to such an extent that the Hon. G. J. Anderson became so exasperated that he exclaimed: “Oh, shut up!” Mr. Coates said that although Samoa had, in company with other countries, passed through its periods of depression, trade activities showed a remarkable increase. “I want to know,” he went on, “whether the members of this House are going to allow the designed policy of the Government to be interfered with by a few whose own interests lie ill Samoa? Mr. H. E. Holland: What is the interference of which you are afraid? Mr. Coates: If the hon. member does not know then lie is more dense than I took him to be. Mr. Holland: We have not yet had a statement. The Prime Minister went on to say that the faipules on the Fono objected to the Legislative Council dealing with their affairs, as they considered the Fono of Faipule had their own method o£ doing things. “If you do away with the Fono and put natives on the Legislative Council, then you will have conflicting interests straight away,” he said. . . . “It is quite definite that we are not going to vacillate; we are going straight on. We will give every man a fair trial.” Mr. W. Jordan: A fair trial? Mr. Coates: You see the trial outlined in this legislation. That is the only trial. Mr. E. J. Howard: That is not a fair trial. Mr. Coates: It is the only trial the Government is prepared to consider. There was a petition before Pari liament on the question, which would | be dealt with later, i Mr. W. D. Lysnar: Why not hear the

petition before you deal with the legislation. Mr. Coates: We cannot wait. We have made up our minds as to what should be done. We have the facts and circumstances and recognise our responsibility and trust. If the thing is allowed to go on and weakness shown at this stage, it Is quite evident that there cannot be two or three administrations for Samoa. We do not want to be unfair. But there is passive resistance in many native villages; it cannot be allowed to continue or to spread. Mr. D. G. Sullivan: You frankly adopt a policy of coercion. Mr. Coates: I know this is the argu ment you will take up right through. The Leader of the Opposition said it was a long time since a more lame explanation had been made in the House as that made by the Prime Minister upon the Government’s atti- . tude in following the German methods of administration in Samoa. Mr. Coates had tried to camouflage the position by blaming the liquor traffic as being at the back of the whole position, but , he was aware that the Labour Party itself would stand fast against any interference with the liquor laws in these islands. New Zealand’s name had become a by-word throughout the civilised world through this legislation—even the Reform journals had roundly condemned the Government for its actions. “The Prime Minister has said that the position was grave in Samoa,” said Mr. Holland. “That statement is in line with the statements coming from Samoa, from whatever source. The Prime Minister did not tell us that for the past four or five years deportations and banishments have been ■ going on from Samoa. Why did he leave it to be thought that they had been going on only for the last few months? It is the banishment of those | chiefs that has aroused the indignation of the Samoans and caused resentment against the New Zealand administration.” The Hon. W. Nosworthy: That is ‘ contrary to fact. Mr. Holland took up the statements of Sir Joseph Carruthers. Mr. Coates: The hon. gentleman is L hard up for something to say. The interjection did not deter Mr. Holland, who dealt fully with the - statements, and made a lengthy com- - parison between the German and New ! Zealand administrations. “Without a ■ ] word of evidence in support of it, we | are asked blindly to take this legisla--1 tion from the House,” said Mr. HolI land, “and make ourselves a bigger - laughing-stock throughout the world i than we are at present. The measure | must be fought to the very last ; j clause.”

GOVERNMENT’S AUTHORITY

The Hon. F, J. Rolleston, AttorneyGeneral, deplored the attitude of the Opposition toward a measure in which the Government was seeking the assistance of the House. Its only result would be to discredit New Zealand in the eyes of the world. The Government had the responsibility of dealing with a grave situation, and they had come to the House to ask for its support, which was why the position had not been dealt with by Order-in-Council, but legislation had been brought forward. The Leader of the Opposition had said that the proposed legislation would have serious results, but the result of inaction would be equally fatal. In reply to the interjection by the member for Christchurch South during the Prime Minister’s speech, as to where the Government got its authority for deportation, he would say that if the Government had not the power the persons affected had a sufficient legal remedy. Under Article 11. of the Mandate, the mandatory had full power of administration and legislation over the territory, and might apply its laws over the territory subject to shell modification as local conditions might require. He was afraid some hon. members were

inclined to think that the administration was doing something very unconstitutional and illegal Mr. W. D. Lysnar, Gisborne: That is so. Mr. Rolleston: I think the lion, member will not deny that any country has the right to say who it will have and who it will not. Mr. P. Fraser, Wellington Central: Do you say that applies to native-born citizens ? Replying to this interjection at a later stage of his remarks, Mr. Rolleston pointed out that the danger was the same, whether a man was an alien or native born. The Bill constituted a very effective check on the action of the Administration by proyiding that he could not act without the authority of the Governor-General. Mr. Lysnar: He ought to go for his life now. Mr. Howard: The legislation shows the weakness of the administration. Only weak men go round with big sticks looking for trouble. The House has not been informed of any danger existing in Samoa at the present time. Mr. Howard denied that there was any party feeling on the question, and urged the setting up of a committee to investigate the position.

FUTURE OF A PEOPLE

“Samoa for the Samoan” is the policy which the Hon W. Nosworthy, Minister of External Affairs, said was to be pursued at the Islands, and the interests of Europeans must be subsidiary to those of the Samoans themselves. Mr. Nosworthy’s speech created great interest in the House, and, at his request to members to eliminate senseless interjections, Mr. Speaker preserved strict order during the Minister’s discourse. Mr. Nosworthy said that he agreed with the chairman of the Samoan Citizens’ Committee that the future of a people was at stake. Every European was a secondary consideration, and if not prepared to conform to the administration of the Mandate it was his duty to get out of the country altogether, instead of waiting to be deported. If any Europeans did not like the prospects of the Government, they could sell out and go. Two points stood out as factors in the present disturbance. One was the liquor trade, which was settled so far as the Government was concerned, but which so far as those who wish d to have the restrictions removed was not settled. The other was the copra trade, which under the present administration had made sr headway that the natives were enabled L get better prices than hitherto, and, if pursued as intended, would eventually place the whole trade in the hands of the natives themselves. The time was coming when with the steady growth of population subdivision of the Islands would be required. Mr. W. D.j Lysnar, Gisborne: Then why are you deporting the Samoans? Reform Members: Order! Order! Mr. McCombs: And importing Chinese. Mr. Nosworthy: Any profits from the sale of the copra will be distributed among the natives : hemselves. “The old order changeth,” said the Minister, “and the new order has come, and under successive administrators it has been working to a higher ideal. “We have nothing to gain in Samoa other than the welfare of its people. We are satisfied to do our duty as a Mandatory Power, and all we have got is criticism and statements carefully and cunningly prepared to undermine the administration and make it a failure instead of a success. “If there is going to be bloodshed, it cannot be said that I did not give fair warning, and I cannot be blamed for the Government not dealing with it.

“If you have natives represented on the Legislative Council you have to give them the franchise, and if you give them the franchise yoiv have the liquor, and between these two what sort of Government are you going to have in Samoa after a short wh.le?” He had been approached by two of the Fono of Faipules, who said, “For God’s sake take from our midst those of your own countrymen who call them selves Europeans, and who are destroying the future of our country.” TRUST THE GOVERNMENT The Leader of the National Party, Mr. G. W. Forbes, said the House ust trust the Government to the Adr inistrator of Samoa. He was therefore disposed to give the Government the powers they ask for and leave the responsibility with them. Mr. W. D. Lysnar, Gisborne, said be would like to see the Government adopt a different attitude. Deportations were still going on. Four more had taken place, according to the evening paper, and people had been ordered to change their names. Mr. Lysnar did not think the people of New Zealand would stand for that. 1 The Bill was unconstitutional, conI trary to the Mandate, and he would j not v'ote for it. | Mr. J. McCombs, Lyttelton, opposed

the Bill. He moved as an amendment “That the Bill be read this day six weeks.” The. amendment was seconded by Mr. M. J. Savage, Auckland West, who said the case against the Bill was unanswerable. They were asking to have some inquiry into the whole question. Mr. H. V. Potter, Roskill, said he had never believed in deportations, and although he had listened carefully to the Prime Minister’s statement he had not yet heard any reason which had caused him to change his opinion. INTO EARLY HOURS As the debate dragged into the early hours of the morning, in anticipation of the Government’s intention to force the Bill through all stages at this sitting, very few members remained wakeful. There appeared every prospect of 'a breakfast-time sitting. At 2.15 a.m. Mr. Coates interjected while Mr. Lynsar was peaking and said: “The Bill will go through, whatever you say. We are not taking the committee stage to-night.” Labour members expressed surprise and Mr. Parry said: “Oh, well let us go home. We will get another bat on Tuesday.” Mr. Nosworthy, speaking in the early hours, said: “We don’t want to wait till the explosion occurs, and then pick up the bits.” Mr. McComb’s amendment divided the House at 2.35 and was lost by 42 votes to 13.

After Mr. Coates replied, the Bill was read the second time, on a division by 43 votes to 13.

BANISHED CHIEFS

THREE MORE SENT AWAY

ADMINISTRATION’S HEAVY HAND

A radio message received from Auckland by o. F. Nelson, Ltd.’s, Auckland office, states that three more chiefs have been banished. Ainu’u has been sent to Malie, Matau to Satana, and Papalai’i to Vailele.

The first chief, it is explained, is the fifth of the Citizens’ Committee executive to be sent away, leaving only one not yet banished. The second, Matau, is the native secretary of the Citizens’ Committee, and the third, Papalai’i, is one of the district delegates to the committee. All three have been deprived of their titles under the Samoan Offenders’ Ordinance, and ordered to assume other names.