SAMOAN CRITICISM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 692, 18 June 1929, Page 11

SAMOAN CRITICISM

METHODIST LEADER URGES PEACE MR. J. F. GOLDIE’S VIEWS HAMILTON, Today. Strong criticism of the administration of Samoa was expressed by the Rev. J. F. Goldie, president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference, speaking at a men’s meeting last evening. lyrß. GOLDIE said that, in his x opinion, is was an initial mistake to appoint a military man as administrator unless the purpose was to subdue the people into obedience. A man with military ideas and impatient with any questioning of his authority was bound to meet with difficulty from freedom-loving Samoans. He believed that General Richardson as a high-minded man, had been actuated by the purest motives in all that he proposed. “I cannot understand the deliverance of a certain Supreme Court judge with regard to the powers conferred on New Zealand under the Mandate,” said Mr. Goldie. “If, as the Covenant of the League of Nations declares, Samoa is to be administered as an Integral part of our territory, our powers there cannot be greater than they are here. Even if the learned judge is correct, surely we are not going to defend the doctrine that might is right.” As a way out of the difficulty Mr. Goldie suggested a round-table conference of the leaders of all parties. A suspension, if not removal, of the deportation order against the Hon. O. F. Nelson, on his giving certain guarantees, would, after his experiences, convert him from an opponent of the control to a valuable ally. Alternatively, the appointment of a commission to confer with all parties and make such recommendations to enable Government authority to be established, would be a way out of the difficult. He regarded Tamasese’s imprisonment as a blunder. The offence was one for which no New Zealander could be imprisoned.