Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 902, 20 February 1930, Page 10

Citizens Say —

“TUCK BOXES”

Sir,— The Southern Cross is due to sail on April 8. For many years sympathisers have sent, by the ship, a “tuck bo:-.” (containing delicacies) to every white worker on the Melanesian Mission staff. The letters of appreciation which the recipients send me from time to time ai~e an assurance that this effort of kindness is well worth while. May I again ask for donations, and, although times are hard, plead for a generous response? A. KATE CRUICKSHAXK. St. Mark’s Vicarage, Remuera.

TROUBLED SAMOA

Sir.—After listening to the three speakers. Messrs. McFarland. Skelton and bchramm, on Sunday evening at tin-* corner of Pitt and Beresford” Streets I felt deeply grieved for the Samoan people, because of the harrowing excellence which has been forced on that troubled country. I sav “forced” because the trouble is not of Samoa’s own making. The world has been told that the Samoan race is a highlv intelligent, intellectual, lovable and peaceful people. To send battleships and armed military police to a country where the people believe in peace is like setting a pack of lions on to a lamb. Surely there is some other n }cth°d than force to induce a conciliatory attitude on this vexed Question. Surely the people of New Zealand are not content to have the affairs of Samoa controlled by force! A. M. CASSIE (MRS.).

“WHERE DOES IT LEAD?”

Sir.— The Government’s actions in Samoa and especially the latest reported shooting of a peaceful and defenceless Samoan boy. as disclosed by his dying deposition, makes me. and should make every other New Zealander blush with shame. We fought the World War to protect small and defenceless nations, and to crush the German doctrine that might in right. yet in its treatment of Samoans New Zealand has tramped underfoot the very ideals for which w~ fought and for which the flower of manhood of nations was sacrificed. V hat good this policy of o >nression of lovable, peaceful and defence-

(To the Editor.)

SAMOA—BOTH SIDES

less people is going to do no Intelligent man or woman can- sec. The only consequence which it will produce will be that >Ww Zealand's reputation and good name will suffer in the eyes of the civilised world. DISGUSTED.

Sir, — Long have I waited for a more able pen than mine to give the public some real insight into the cause of the ddstic action taken by the police in Samoa recently. Having been a resident of Samoa, I can say that the patience shown by the Administration toward the Mau and its processions leaves little to be desired. I do not desire to uphold the Administration in such actions as deportations without trial, or taxation without representation. The report of the Commission gave Lis all sufficient evidence that the natives have a. real grievance, but the natives cannot expect to gain a political point, by criminal actions. Undoubtedly Samoans are a peaceful race, but lack of faith in New Zealand and her representatives, bad administration in the past and harassing tactics used by tho military police—such as raids by night, etc. —drove them into strongholds, where we found them grieving over their troubles, and not ! n moo< l Lo give the present Adrnintakes ° r a cliance to rectify past misAny native defying the law Hew to tnese strongholds, and the M u would not give him up to law and justice, but instead we find such men in the °} Procession, protected by the Mau leally in open defiance to the laws, and the police. Such processions are quite orderly uniil the Umn C %Vn,mT Pt n t 0 arrest u cri minal, and then trouble begins in earnest. The vastly outnumbered do not always succeed in the job thev are ordeied to do, but sometimes have to Ttefv a^d^ hiS ?°“ ld » ot go on indefina - ai^ d a *! Gal dash had to come. The U^Trti 110 ” in forwar fiing instructions for the wanted men to be left at \ aimoso, did the right thing; but again o,m See t , Cleflance - ' vith disastrous results ana other nations, which have not iad S V tl .T se , things, judge that it ls . ail Zealand’s fault. Thev look °" y ts-- th x- P Ol *«cal side and not tho - Ze ' l,a «d. to allow such ~,‘ r y ’ culd soon lose what respect S” '-on- C v-! n n l€S have for her, and •'° u *d not be a good place to ; Vt is easy to criticise the V’min istrution. but it has also don • lot oX ouod m recent years, especially

in tho medical field, and slowly tut surely such diseases as yaws, elephantiasis, and fevers are being stamp* o out. I consider that, given a bearing by the Samoans, Colonel Allen v**i»l y everything in his power to blot ou» the past, and start again on terms. In the meantime Mo is hindered by the lack of faith in New Zealand, and the protection of 1 , MANX- IA.

MOTOR CAMP CLOSED

Sir, — ... Mr. J. R. Fow, Mayor of Hamilton lias stated that private ente prise encroached on borough property at i "Hamilton motor camp. I wish to c rect that statement. The Council took private property d it into a motorists’ camp in I*-* continued to run it until the mlaai© November, collecting all fees. * December 24 to January 31 the aS received from me the sum of J 1 ~ fees, the money being collected 1 the motorists as a levy. No mone * collected has been paid to I^ie ,? w of the land. Since I took over tn® vate portion of the camp n her the council has decided to cl °s ground and is now directing nio to another camp nearly three - f away. Mr. Fow says there is dang . insanitary conditions arising. ana there is no control over private pe ~ I have agreed to install convenience but the council will not grant a mit. The reason is advanced tn ~' mTr <. cause my partner is out of the c - und the section being on a non*® sumer’s water rate, he may refm* pay the extra rate. I am prepack _ pay the full rate. PRIVATE ENTERPBL*