“SAMOA HONOURED”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 335, 21 April 1928, Page 13

“SAMOA HONOURED”

TRIBUTE TO GENERAL RICHARDSON ENTERTAINED BY SOLDIERS Press Association. WELLINGTON, Friday. A large number of returned soldiers, with pleasant recollections of General Sir George Richardson’s solicitude for the “Diggers” when in charge of the New Zealand military headquarters in London, assembled at the Returned Soldiers’ Association clubroom yesterday to welcome him back from Samoa. The president, Colonel Hall, referred to General Richardson’s high ideals, as shown by his organisation of an educational scheme for the benefit of New Zealand soldiers in hospital in England and awaiting repatriation. No doubt the same ideals had actuated him in his work in Samoa, where he had endeavoured to improve the condition of the natives. They felt that Samoa had been honoured in having a man of his experience and uprightness to control the affairs of the mandated territory, and to develop the mental outlook of the natives and the natural resources of their country. The ex-Administrator, in reply, spoke of the difficulties peculiar to Samoa, and referred to the improvements effected by the administration in the development of the Islands. In health questions Samoa had progressed considerably under the mandate, and the Mandatory Commission had eulogised the work done. Personally, he was satisfied he had done his work thoroughly, and he had no hesitation in saying that the policy of the New Zealand Administration was sound.