LIFE IN SAMOA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 871, 15 January 1930, Page 16

LIFE IN SAMOA

FORMER ADMINISTRATOR’S VIEWS APPRECIATED CRITICISM The British object in capturing Samoa, the living conditions in the South Seas, and views on the natives were contained in a lecture given by Colonel R. Logan, C. 8., first British administrator of Samoa, to members of the Overseas League, Edinburgh, at the end of November. In the report of the lecture "The Scotsman" says Captain the Earl of Glasgow, R.N., and spoke of some of his early experiences in the South Seas as a midshipman. He reraenjbered one occasion when Robert Louis Stevenson, then staying at Vailima, spent a fortnight afloat with them.

Colonel Logan, after referring to his experiences with the British expedition which took Samoa in tlieearly days of tlie Great War—the main object being to capture the great wireless s'tation which maintained communication between German headquarters and the German Pacific fleet, then in Chinese waters, went on to describe living conditions on the South Sea Islands, and in Samoa in particular. Speaking of the natives' Colonel Logan said they were a very religious people—there was an atmosphere of religion about all their ceremonies. For instance, if he was paying a visit to some tribe, they would begin, upon his arrival, by thanking God that he had had a safe journey. If it were a fine day they would then thank God for the sun which shone upon them and, on the other hand, if it were a wet day, they would thank God for the rain which was helping to swell the bananas.

The Samoan native was actually a very truthful man, any reputation to the contrary -which he possessed being due to his sense of politeness. The first thing a Samoan did when he was asked a question was to consider what answer his questioner would like to have. His politeness then made it necessary to give the answer which he considered would give most pleasure. The address was illustrated bylantern slides. In letters to the Hon. O. F. Nelson, Colonel Logan expresses appreciation of services rendered to his administration by Mr. Nelson. Although Mr. Nelson, when occasion arose, openlyexpressed where he differed in opinion from Colonel Logan’s views on Samoan affairs, during his administration in Samoa, Colonel Logan never showed personal resentment for criticism of his policies. On the contrary-, he appreciated the free expression of views of those who had been longer in the country than he, and greatly benefited by the same. Difference in political views did not influence Colonel Logan prejudieiallytoward his critics.