“Not One Drop of Samoan Blood”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 107, 27 July 1927, Page 9

“Not One Drop of Samoan Blood”

WHITE MAN’S BURDEN

ELOQUENT PLEA BY SIR MAUI POMARE | (THE SVS'S Parliamentary Eeportcr.f WELLINGTON, To-day. H E similarity of the Samoans to members of the Polynesian race, in their struggle for self-determination, was stressed by Sir Maui Pomare in the House of Representatives this morning, when, after an all-night sitting, he delivered a stirring speech concluding the debate on the Samoa Bill. It was tinged with just a touch of bitterness for the privations of the Maoris at the hands of the pakehas. Although greatly wearied by the all-night debate, members were stirred to applause when Sir Maui resumed his seat at 7 o’clock. The Samoans had not yet found their feet, he said, but progress was being made. Mr. Coates: Every individual in New Zealand is responsible for that. Sir Maui (sharply): Every individual in New Zealand is responsible for taking influenza into the Islands and wiping out a quarter of the population. Mr. Coates; Nonsense. Sir Maui: It is not nonsense I know what I say; but this is our job. We are doing it, voluntarily. We could have refused it. It is no use mincing words about it. and so far we have made a jolly good job of it. Members: Well, let us go home. Sir Maui: Now what is civilisation? Mr. H. E. Holland: In this case it is the big stick. Sir Maul said that the Fono had served its purpose in educating the Samoan to legislative ways. “In this country,” he continued, "we, the Maoris, were barred for some time from having any part in legislation, but eventually we got the franchise, and then there were tatooed Maoris in Parliament. tVe are now working up to the position where the Samoan can help himself. The Samoans are like the Maoris. They have been endowed with the same capacity. Let us give the Samoan a little more responsibility in governing himself. Mr. W. E. Parry: Yes, with a big stick.

Sir Maui: Well I think the big stick is necessary so long as you are going along the lines of the British Constitution. 1 cannot forget that the pakeha has got used to using the big stick, and I recall that at one time if a man stole a rabbit in England he was deported. Mr. D. G. Sullivan: He was lucky if he were not hanged. “And many of the fairest countries of the world now hold these good men from England,” continued Sir Maui. “If the policy is to be ‘Samoa for Samoans’ it means that they come in as part of the British Empire or stand alone, when able to stand alone, as an independent nation to govern themselves.” Mr. Coates: That is so.

Sir Maui: Therefore I would woo the Samoans as much as possible so that when the time comes they will throw in their lot with the British Empire, for, after all, the British Empire means much. Justice must always prevail because this is the constitution of the British Empire. Get the Samoan to feel that British rule stands for justice and equity. If we want the Samoan to become part of us, we must do all those things that will cause adhesion and goodwill.

Sir Maui concluded with a burst of poetic eloquence on “when mercy tempers justice.” “So we must be careful,” he concluded, “that when we extract our pound of flesh we do not spill one drop of Samoan blood.”