The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1927. SEEKING TRUTH IN SAMOA

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 136, 30 August 1927, Page 8

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1927. SEEKING TRUTH IN SAMOA

!T is about time for the dissatisfied members of the Citizens’ Committee of Western Samoa to cultivate the right mood for a thorough, independent investigation of the trouble in the territory. Prom the utterances of several representatives of that fretful organisation, impartial observers will have been tempted to think that the spirit of. conciliation is over-ridden on the island by a provocative churlishness of temper. The latest example of the wrong mood for securing the whole truth about the Samoan situation is one that calls for rebuke. It was reported yesterday that Mr. A. G. Smyth, a member of the Citizens’ Committee, immediately on his arrival at Auckland by the Aorangi, declared that it would not be surprising “if the order of reference to the Royal Commission disclosed another somersault in that the inquiry might now be on how to justify the actions of the Administrator, supported by the New Zealand Government, instead of trying to find out the truth of the situation.” If citizens of Samoa have nothing better to say about the character or course of the projected inquiry they would render good service to their territory by holding their tongues. What reason has Mr. Smyth, or anybody else indeed, for even suspecting that the Government, in agreeing to hold a comprehensive inquiry into the causes of Samoan discontent, merely intends to bolster up the Administration and, if necessary, whitewash the actions of Sir George Richardson? Prom special inquiries made in Wellington we are in a position to say definitely that the Government will do everything within reason to seek the truth about the Samoan trouble, without fear or favour, and entirely free of political motive or taint. It is practically certain that, if the important work of the Judiciary in New Zealand can be arranged in a manner to maintain it in normal progress, the Chief Justice will be appointed chairman of the projected Royal Commission. Those who know Sir Charles Skerrett will have no hesitation in saying that it would be preposterous, as well as grossly impertinent, to suggest that he would in any circumstances lend himself, or the unassailable integrity of his high office, to be used for political purposes. The Government realises just as clearly as any one of its critics that the unrest in Samoa touches interests that g_o far beyond the narrow boundaries in the political affairs of this country. It is at once and altogether an international question; hence the necessity of appointing an independent tribunal with the full powers of the King’s Commission to seek the truth concerning the hysterical trouble in the mandated territory. It is satisfactory to know, further, that the Government will not heed the advice and suggestions of all sorts of enthusiasts to request the League of Nations or the British Empire’s Colonial Office to provide investigators. The mandate to govern Western Samoa as a part of this country is in the hands of the New Zealand Government and it is the Government’s duty to examine its operation and, if disclosed as necessary by a Judicial Commission, to correct defects and adjust the wrongs and maintain the rights of the natives and citizens of Samoa.

IN THE AIR

IP the visit of the British Airways Mission does nothing more than stimulate local activity in aviation it will have been worth while, for anything more apathetic than New Zealand’s interest in this all-important development of modern days would be difficult to imagine. Not without reason has New Zealand been dubbed “the tortoise of the air” among British Dominions. The scheme to link the British Empire by air was conceived in the heart of the Empire, of course—whence most great schemes for the betterment of Britons overseas emanate. Por in Britain the chosen rulers of the race think imperially; theirs is no narrow view, bounded by a channel of sea on the one hand and a ridge of high land on the other. The capital cost of the whole scheme will be JE4,500,000. As usual, by far tlie greater proportion of the cost is to be met by Great Britain, whose purse is never closed to her brood. The South African and Canadian Governments have both offered mooring towers; but Australia has not done so, and it is said that unless Australia agrees to come into the scheme New Zealand cannot participate. Why? New Zealand’s participation in the benefits of the service may be dependent upon the Commonwealth, but there is no reason why New Zealand cannot at once offer to do her share financially should the dreams of these mighty planners of Empire air-navigation come true. Such an offer would have an excellent effect on the Australian attitude.

It should be noted with particular attention that despite the many recent disasters to airmen experts claim a greatlyincreased safety in the air, and it is said that two giant ships to be built next year will be quite safe for commercial flying. Disasters of recent times are attributed to no little extent to the human factor, and as against fatalities that have been notorious it is pointed out that in the four years between 1910 and 1914 (a long way back) German airships constructed for passenger traffic carried 42,000 passengers, in 2,000 separate flights, without a mishap to a single passenger—and there was the remarkable war-time example, in 1917, of the German airship that flew from Bulgaria to East Africa and back, a distance of 4,200 miles, in 9G hours, without landing. And now airships are being constructed on “an entirely new basis,” making for tlie greatest degree of safety.

While other nations are emulating the eagle, New Zealand lias been fluttering from tree to tree, like a tired dove. Apparently, all the time our airmen have been talking about a flight to Australia, they have not had a machine capable of flying more Ilian a few hundred miles at a stretch. Tlie visit of the British Air Mission is timely.