“Samoans Will Be Amused at Warships”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 284, 21 February 1928, Page 1

“Samoans Will Be Amused at Warships”

EXILED EDITOR RETURNS DEPORTED TO HOMELAND Mr. E. VV. Gurr, editor of the “Samoa Guardian,” who in Auckland yesterday by the Tofua, has the unique honour of being “deported” to his homeland! New Zealand was his birthplace, though he has spent nearly a half century in the Islands, and mos*: people imagine that he was pari, and parcel of the Samoan group. VEITHER the Administrator of British Samoa. Sir George Richardson, nor the Naval Goverror of the American Samoan territory particularly desired Mr. Gurr’s presence. In fact, for three weeks prior to his departure Mr. Gurr was the “guest” of his Samoan Excellency at Malololelei, a mountain resrrt five miles from Apia. When Mr. Gurr made application to the Americans to return to American Samoa his request was refused. “So here I am,” he said, on arrival by the mail-boat at Auckland, a short, stout, little figure, clad in the biscuit - coloured fuji silk. “New Zealand was my home before, and it looks as if it will be my home for the next five, years!” Until he had consulted the Hon O. F. Nelson, however, Mr. Gurr de dined to discuss his future plans. He expressed great surprise however at the latest developments in the situation, though he did not think that the consequences would have any serious political effect. Personally, he did not think that the situation in Apia warranted any such action. Mr. Gurr denied that the Mau was now out of the control of those who organised it. That the objects of the British Samoan Mau and the American Mau were the same, he also denied: “They are totally different,” declared Mr. Gurr. As he had been absent from Apia for *''e last three weeks prior to his depar tu.e. he said that he could not speak authoritatively in regard to the situation. What knowledge he had was second hand. Yet he certainly knew nothing that necessitated such strong action as the dispatch cf warships to Samoa. “As a matter of fact, the Samoans will be more amused than anyuiiog else,” he remarked.