WHITE MAN’S CLIMATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1921, Page 5

WHITE MAN’S CLIMATE.

CONDITIONS IN SAMOA. ON THE ROAD TO PROSPERITY. Afte? a residence of three months in Samoa, Professoi E. Marsden, of Victoria College, has given in an interview some impressions of the Dominion’s mandatory territory. In the first place, Professor Marsden . said there was a wide belief that the climate of Samoa was such that white S?n could not work in it. He had been ere in the height of the summer, and considered this a complete mistake. It was “a white - man’s climate.” The temperature had never exceeded 90 degrees; and when certain improvements in sanitation and conveniences were made, there should be no reason why one should do less there than in New Zealand. The ordinary office hours were 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and there was no “siesta,” nor was one required. The “siesta” was not suited to the AngloSaxon, and he was inclined to regard it as a convenient invention of the lazy Latin race*. It was true that many people broke down under work; but he believed that in probably the majority of cases this was not the fault of the climate, but was due to following up the day’s work with a full evening of gaiety. In the majority of cases people would not break down if they led sensible lives.

At present there are numerous directions in which the health conditions of Samoa require improvement, and this is now in progress Hitherto there have been no refrigeration facilities, and the provision of fresh meat has been la difficult problem. A cool store has just been completed in Apia, and the storage is to be increased. Mosquitoes are a serious inconvenience, but the use of mosquite netting is becoming general, with good results; and Dr. Ritchie, the chief medical officer, is about to establish a public health department, which will commence an offensive against the mosquito. When the conditions are improved by better sanitary arrangements, proper protection against mosquitoes, and the provision of the conveniences of electricity, Samoa should, in three years or so, be as healthy as New Zealand. Related to the general question of public health is that of prohibition. At first, said Professor Marsden, he had felt sympathy with the arguments of those who opposed the new order; but he now felt sure that liquor should be kept out of the islands, for the sake of the natives, for the sake of young men who were apt to seek false relief from alcohol, and for the sake of the community generally. Professor' Marsden said he was impressed by the work of the Administrator, Col. R. W. Tate, who was meeting his problems excellently. His was a difficult task, but he was successfully ruling the natives according to a system which was a judicious mixture of the laws of New Zealand and native customs, a skilful grafting of one on the other. This had an encouraging effect on the native, who worked willingly and well if he saw reason for doing so. This was clearly shown by natives employed by the Public Works Department. “New Zealand should not give up Samoa,” he added. “Solar energy is being poured into the islands at a rate far greater than_ it comes to New Zealand, and it is our business to get it out and use it. The island will be a gold mine in time. It will be slow in developing to that stage; but the Government is doing in the right direction to get it there. There is a slump in copra; and chaos was caused by the expulsion of the experienced German planters, whose successors are now gaining experience rapidly. As soon as that period is over things will go smoothly in Samoa. Mistakes have been made, and bad ones; but they have been due to inexperience, and there are hopeful signs at the moment. The main thing is to give the native an incentive to work and to encourage him by good, conditions and sympathetic understanding.