VISIT TO SAMOA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3434, 13 March 1920, Page 6

VISIT TO SAMOA.

QUESTION OF COi\"I‘ROLVARIQLS ZEATTERS DISCL'Sb‘I*JD. \VELLL~IG'I‘ON, March 11. Sir James Allen said the .\landate cplcmly laid down the natives must be the first interest of the mandatory power, ..r, the Miinster added, also recognising a duty to the world, he did not Uk.'ilL‘\l.3 it right to let, such fertile land Icl:ia.ln uncultivated. He en-do:-sell the action of the Administration in insisting on improvement of the labourers’ quarters. In answer to coniplaLi:.s oi’ forced repatriation, he held on; no hope of the return of any pan. or’ repatriation fees. He considelsd a scheme of advances to settlers .l£1l'dl)' practicable until the labour «;.lestio.n was settled, but he [)I'0I1llSC‘L. to bring it up before Cabinet. He said he ‘had not received final instructions in reference to the Mandate, but would do his utmost to hasten the gazetting of the Imperial Order-in-Council to make the Mandate clear. It was intended "Samoa should be administered as an integral portion of New Zealand. Discussing the liquor report, Sir James Allen said he would give a straight, uncompromising answer. The National Cabinet had resolved prohibition was necessary in Samoa, and the decision was endorsed by the Reform. Cabinet. He quoted; the Mandate’s injunction against. per‘ mitting slavery, firearms, and liquor, and also emphasised the danger in. dealing with the proud and dignified Samoan race of any suggestion of discrimination in favour of the whites as against natives, ~ _Speaki.ng to a report on the constabulary, a member of ‘the committee said nobody knew what members of the force found to do, and he also complained that they were not oflici-I ally informed of the decision to bring police from New Zealand, Sir James‘ 'Allen said, announcing the despatch of the constabular-y’ would -have meant _ disclosure of the intention of the eva- ‘ cuation of the Expeditionary Force, which was not desirable. The Govcrn- ‘ ment anticipated the constabulary : would be welcome as the first definite ‘ act marking the reversion to civil ad- ' ministration. He added: “Though you may not see a good reason for‘ sending constabulary to Samoa, the New Zealand Government does see al reason which at the present moment I am not at liberty to disclose.” The Minister pointed out the cost of the force would be borne by New Zeal-and. The editor of a newspaper supplemented at length a report requesting discontinuance ‘of the censorship. Questioned ‘by .‘.[eSsrs Carilcross, Triggs, and (.ie<l<les, he admitted sending much unedited matter to the cen301', thus necessitating editorship by the censor. Faced with the alternatives of continuation of the censorship or publ-ication under the conditions of the New Zealand press, subject to the provisions of the Crimes Act as regards sedition, the editor considered the present censorship preferable. Sir James Allen said he believed in a free press, but not an unlicensed press. At the ].linistel"s sugggestion the editor agreed to edit the matter and then send it to the censor. The Rev. Clark ‘questioned as to his statement in the published report that attempts of Government education were not encouraging, said he refcrred to the expense compared with the mission schools. He believed a compulsory system desirable. The German . adniinistration always threatened clfortg in that direcltion. Sir Jas. Allen said the members recognised the full and valuable work done by missionaries in the Pacific Islands. H did not want to interfere, but thought it possible there was room for some improvements. lHe instanced the Cook Group, where the State had taken over 'the schools at the request of the London Missionl Society. The Governemnt expected’ Samoa would bear some of the cost of educating the children. Sir-James Allen intimated that he wolud noti

agree to an elective Legislative Council, at all events; until it was settled who was entitled to the franchise. Questioned on the status of German property he said according to the Treaty New Zealand would take over such fornierly German owned propeffy as the D.H.P.G., but till the ()rclel--in-Council was gazetted he Waa unable to say what action would be taken in regard to individual German planters.

The visit of Sir J. Allen and the party to the London Missionary Society’s_ Training Com-go zit Maula for pastors and teachers for Samoa and other Pacific Islzfixcls and Papuu was one of the most notable m'mlt.< of the tour. Blombers were i.lnpz'cssed fivitih the splendid info]l~ig:_enco, and physique of four huxldrod young men and women students. Sir Jas. Allen said he I'ecognis(‘d that" in their hands lay the futmo of Szunoa. He Wished Hl<*nl r:ontinll(‘«‘l .<llccess.Mc-nl- - 'regarded them as {L hopeful augury of the future. ”