“Anaemic Report”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 227, 14 December 1927, Page 9

“Anaemic Report”

COMMISSION ON SAMOA Sydney Journal’s View By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. Received 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day THE “Sydney Morning Herald,” in a leading article, sayt-: “The report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the administration of Western Samoa is unlikely to prove of much assistance in restoring the coneord of those beautiful but distracted isles. It is a disappointing document.”

/CONTINUING, the article says: j “The calibre pf the commissioners is such that something more helpful was expected. Sir Charles Skerrett is no feeble legal rushlight, but a brilliant luminary in his profession. His fellow commissioner, Mr. C. E. McCormack, was particularly well fitted to apply himself to the Samoan problem. “It may be that the rather anaemic character of their report is due rather to the rigid terms of reference. If that be the case, it is to be regretted that it was not drawn up more widely, for more than the personal administration of Sir George Richardson was involved; the whole system of the mandate government was at stake. The New Zealand Government and the personnel of the Samoan Commission will f doubtless find cause for self-congratu-lation in the findings of the commission.’* LACK OF TACT? After reviewing the evidence and

[points at Issue, the leader continues: “New Zealand’s administration of the mandate has In general been carried out with a praiseworthy regard for the interests of the people, and with disinterestedness. For what she has done to improve their health conditions, the Samoans cannot but be grateful; but the very rapidity with which the reforms have been perfected has caused dissatisfaction. Attachment to old and harmful customs dies hard among the Pacific natives. Much tact must be brought to the handing of them. “It is tact, perhaps, that the Administration has lacked. The trouble might have been averted had the Government availed itself of the services of someone with an adequate knowledge of Samoan traditions and temperament, and in whatever reorganisation may be considered necessary in the light of the Commissioners* report, such an appointment might well be kept in view.”—A. and N.Z.