“SAMOA IS A LEMON”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 329, 14 April 1928, Page 10

“SAMOA IS A LEMON”

DOMINION’S FLAT FAILURE U.S. VIEWS MANDATE Through American eyes the mandate of Samoa is a “flat failure” and, moreover, “the future is hopeless unless something is done to prevent the exploitation of the natives.” r'PHIS drastic criticism of New Zen--A land’s control loses some of its force when one discovers that the writer, Mr. O. E. Moors, of Oakland, is lamentably behind the times in his knowledge of island affairs. His sole claim to intimacy with Samoa is based on the fact that he is a brother of the late Mr. H. J. Moors, an island trader, .and that he lived in Samoa “for several years,” evidently a long time ago. Writing under big headings in the San Francisco “Chronicle.” Mr. Moors contrasts the understanding controls of the United States, and even of Germany, with the unscrupulous mandate of New Zealand. NATIVES’ RIGHTS It is quite natrual that the Samoans should object to the mandate, he says, because there is “no just reason why anyone should rule them.” “For the last 30 *ye ars they have had to submit to the dictates of outsiders,” he continues. “Before the war the Germans, who had large investments in the islands, were in control, and most of the development that had been done was done by them. The government was run economically and progress was being made. They so handled the natives that there was little discontent.” I-lere is liis picture of the innocent natives: “The Samoans, in many ways, are the finest of the South Sea island peoples. They welcome the stranger with a sincere and whole-hearted hospitality. They are trusting and childlike, innocent and unsuspecting of deceit, and on this account advantage is often taken of them. Dignity and good manners are characteristic of the Samoans. INGRATITUDE! “What has been the return for the welcome and kindness to the white race to their country?” he asks. “First one and then another has seized the country and run it to suit themselves. They hoist their flag and inform the Samoan people that they have come to rule them whether they like it or not. The Samoan does not protest. He has learned that it is useless. Pie goes home, attends to his own affairs, pays little attention to the rulers, but in no way helps them. A peaceful resistance is his plan.” Mr. Moors describes the Dominion’s “interference” like this: —“They sent about a thousand young men up from New Zealand for police duty in addition to a governor, and all kinds of officials to run Samoa, which the natives had ruled peacefully for years without any pay roll at all. The cost and debt was charged up to Samoa. Thus the Samoans were forced to participate in the World War indirectly in a financial way. Mismanagement and mistakes had to be paid for, and the source was New Zealand.” “A JUNKETING TRIP” His latest news of Samoa was the Parliamentary tour of a number of years back. “Evidently objections were being made, for an investigation was decided on. A steamer was chartered and every one who had a voice in the government decided to go on this junketing trip at no small expense, to accomplish what one or two good men could have done at small cost. They a.ll seemed to enjoy the trip wonderfully.” Contrast America’s happy rule. “They headed first for Pago Pago on Tutuila, American Samoa, to see what the Americans were doing. One of them said he had found efficiency, contentment and happiness everywhere. Tutuila supports about double the number of people since America has taken hold in Samoa. Poverty or distress is not known there.”

Now for a summary of the difficulties.

“Samoa is not a juicy orange for any country to pick. It is a lemon. Great sums of money would have to be spent to develop the country and make it pay. With plenty of good roads and good accommodations for tourists it might be made attractive to travellers and a source of revenue.’ “And now the news from Samoa is that conditions under New Zealand's management are growing from bad to worse. The mandate is a flat failure and the future hopeless unless something is done to prevent further exploitation of the natives.”