AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1916, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

PROSPEROUS CONDITIONS. INCREASE OF REVENUE. Peaceful aiffl prosperous conditions have been established in Samoa under the British administration. The island was occupied by a military expedition, under the protection of a naval squadron, at the end of August, IDI4, and since then British sovereignty has been represented by the administration of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Logan. Lieutenant-Colonel Logan returned to Auckland on Monday on furlough, and before leaving for the south had an interview with the Hon. James Allen, Minister for Defence. Mr. Allen afterwards stated that he had discussed ivith Colonel Logan a number of important questions regarding the administration of the island. Colonel Logan gave a good account of the natives of Samoa and of their loyalty to the administration. The civil administration had been well established, and the country is now more prosperous than it was under German rule—the expenditure is lower and the revenue greater. The finances liave been audited and the audit has been satisfactory.

Colonel Logan also informed the Minister that the interning of a number of Germans who have been brought to New Zealand during the last few weeks has had a good effect, by rem'oving the possibility of trouble. The garrison forces are being maintained by a system of reliefs from the Dominion, which will be trained in Samoa. The mobility of the forve has been greatly increased by the provision of horses and bicycles for the greater portion of it.