The Pros and Cons of Samoa

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 4, 12 August 1927, Page 2

The Pros and Cons of Samoa

Here is given in a nutshell the facts concerning our administrative problem in Samoa. From official information suppligd by the Prime Minister’s Department, the following authoritative summary of the Samoan situation was given Listeners by the editor-announcer from 2YA on Friday evening last.

The Samoan or Navigator Islands were discovered by a Dutchman in 31722, but Samoa’s quite disproportion. ate prominence in history did not commence until the middle of the nineteenth century, when’ Great Britain, the United States of America, and Getsmany established consular agents in Apia (pronounced Ah-peea) to watch ile interests of their respective madionals. TVifty years of almost continual native warfare between rival claimants to the overlordship of the istands led to constant intervention by the consuls, to much publicity throughout the world, and to an exaggerated sense amoiig the Samoans of their importance in world affairs. The distracted people offered the sovereignty of the islands withont success, firstly to Great Britain aud then to the United States | of America, and ultimately an arrangement was made that the affairs of the Furopean settlement in Apia should be administered by a board consisting of the three European consuls, while outside that area the native chiefs dealt with their people in their own way. In 1888 the perennial disputes concerning the kingship reached a crisis, and: an international dispute developed owing to the Consul of the United States, supported by the British Consul, adopting the cause of one party, while the German Consul supported another. Three German and three American ships of war, and one British warship gathered in Apia harbour, and there seemed every prospect of war when a violent hurricane wrecked all these vessels save the British ship Calliope. The dramatic suddenness of the disaster and the great loss of life stayed the hands of the Powers, and a conference led to an agreement that the international regime already existing in Apia should be extended throughout the whole territory. STEVENSON’S HOME. eee It was at this period that Robert Louis Stevenson settled in Samoa, and it is of interest to note that his beautiful home ‘‘Vailima’" (pronounced VyJeema), high up on the hills oyerlooking Apia, is at present the official residence of the Administrator, and was used for a similar purpose by the Germans, Stevenson took a lively interest in the native dissensions, and earned for himself undying respect and esteem among the Samoans, but it was not until some,years after his untimely death that the native bickering finally caine to a head in 1899. As the result of a further conference between Great Britain, the United States of America, and Germany, Great Britain, compensated by territory elsewhere, agreed to withdraw from Samoa; the United States of America was allotted the eastern portion of the group, including

the only good harbour at Pago Pago .{pronounced Pango Pango-all g’s in ‘Samoa being sounded ng as in ‘‘singer’), while Western Samoa, including’ the large islands of Upolu (pronounced Oo-pol-oo, the Central o as in pole) and Savaii and the town of Apia were left to Germany. The German administration continued yith periodical outbursts ‘of native unrest until the islands were taken by the New Zealand Forces in 1914, held under military occupation untit 1920, and since then under mandate from the Teague of Nations.

THE PENALTY OF TEMPERAMENT, The outstanding point to be noticed is that almost as far back as the record goes'the Samoans have been quarrelling and fighting among themselves. They are a brave and honourable people, loveable and excitable, with the faults and the virtues of a child. "Political intrigue is bred, in. their history and_in their blood, their resentment is easily roused and difficult to appease, and they are quick to seize upon any cause that can be made the subject of the endless debates and disputes that are to them almost a national. pastime. Stevenson suggested as a motto entirely suitable to Samoa: ‘Enter rumour painted {ull of tongues." New Zealand’s administration of the territory has not been free from ex‘amples of the unrest that is characteristic of the people, and it is only. a few years ago that the Faipule (pro- | nounced Fy-pool-ee) of Samoa, who are

the selected representatives of the whole people, addressed a petition to His Majesty the King praying that thie administration of the islands should be removed from the control of New Zealand. On this occasion the Faipule have repudiated the criticism of the Administration, UNDER OUR ADMINISTRATOR. Samoa is at present governed by an Administrator, Major-General Sir

two bodies dealing respectively with the concertis of the natives and the Europeatis. On native affairs the Administrator is-advised by the Fono of Faipule, consisting of chosen representatives of the 33 districts into which the territory is divided, and on Iuropean mat‘ters ths Administrator is advised by the Legislative Council, which consists of six.official members nominated by the Administrator and three unofficial ‘members eJected by the European constituency. The elected members on the Legislative Council are the Hon. O. F. Nelson, Hon. G. E. Ll. Westbrook, and Hon. A. Williams. COMPLAINT AND ANSWER. The committee which is acting as, the mouthpiece of the present movement consists of the Hon. O. EF. Nelson as chairman, Hon. G. E. L. West‘brook, Hon. A. Williams, Messrs. S. H. Meredith, EK. W.. Gurr, and A. G. Smyth, and six native Samoans, some of chiefly rank. ‘Their- complaints and the answers of the Administration thereto, put as shortly and as fairly as possible, are as follow :- (1) The committee content that both natives and Europeans should equally be elected to the Legisla-. tive Council, which they say should have authority to deal with all the affairs of the territory, both Euro-. pean. and: native, To this the Administration reply: (1) That the Samoans themselves in their Fono of Faipule have repudiated this stiggestion, and (2) that native afwho is advised by : |

(2) fairs can be better dealt with by a Fono of 33 members than by a minority of Samoan members on the Legislative Council. The committee complain of extravagant financial administration of the territory, giving numerous details in support of their allegations. The Administration in reply traverse these details, deny extravagance, and assert that even -if there were extravagance New Zealand’s bona fides in the matter are perfectly clear by reason of the

(3) fact that New Zealand subhsidises the ‘Treasury to the extent of some £20,000 per annum, equal. to about of the total aunual expenditure of the territory. The committee next complain of the cost of the medical administration. ‘Fo this the Administration reply (1) that this service has resulted in an increase in the population, better health, better sani- | tation arid a large decrease in in-| fant mortalitv, and that the re-. sults are sufficient to justifv even creater expenditure. and (2) that the natives in their Fono have themselves agreed to the . imposition of a tax for medical purposes of £1 per head on all adult natives.

(4) (5) (8) The committee allege that the Fono of Faipule is not truly representative, of the Samoan people. To’ this the Administration replv that no Faipute has ever been anpointed or removed bv the Ad-’ ministrator except with the approval of his people, and that norequest for the removal of a Faipule has ever ‘been refused. The committee complain of the. power taken and exercised by the. Administrator to order the banish-_ ment of a native from one nart of. Samoa to another, and to denrive a Chief. of his titles. The renlv of the Administration is that this is an ancient enstom of the Samoan. "people, its continuance was con-. sidered necessatv. by the Germans and is swift considered mnecessarv as a disciplinary measure bv the resent Administrator, and that the -Fono of Fainnle have approved the course adopted. The committee criticise the Administration’s prohbition of the

( "fine mat malaga’ (pronounced ma-lunga), which is a ceremonial visit of one village to another. The Administration contend that these visitations resulted in the hosts being eaten out of house aud home, and that their prohibition was requested by the Fono. Finally, the committee complain of the prohibition of alcoholic Hquor in Western Samoa. To this the Administration reply that the po-. licy was approved by the National Government of New Zealand in

1919; that it is on aft fours: with the policy adopted in the other island dependencies of New Zealand, and that so far as the natives themselves are concerned, prohibition is imposed in accordance with the terms of the Mandate. THE BASE FOR CRITICISM, . The committee base their case on what they regard as reasonable criticism of the Administration. and on the principles of British justice, which they say place no restriction on such critic ism, while the Administration in reply call attention to the admittedly great progress that has been made in Samoa since. the inception of New Zealand ‘administration, to the undesirability of interfering with that progress, and to the effect that the Administration’s assistance in disposing of native copra has had upon the interests of certain ‘of the European traders. The Administration further contend that whatever may be the rights or wrongs of the questions in dispute, any means "by. which native unrest and disaffection are aroused must be detrimental to the Samoans’ own interests, which the Administration and the people of New ‘Zealand have entirely at heart. APPEAL TO PARLIAMENT. A petition from Samoa has been lodged with Parliament, and, on the other hand, a Bill introduced by the Prime Minister. has been passed by both Houses of Parliament authorising the deportation of Europeans from the territory or the removal of Samoans from one portion of the territory to -another if, after a hearing, it is clear that the performance of the duties imposed upon New Zealand by the mandate or of the functions of the Administration has been hindered. The Hon. Mr. Nelson and Mr. Smyth are at present in New Zealand to support the petition, which is now being considered by a Select Committee of both Houses. Opinion of all shades will agree in. regretting the present state of affairs. No ane who has visited these lovely islands can fail to he charmed with their beauty and with their people. Calm sunny days; cool still nights; the rolling surf of the Pacific breaking over the white reefs; the green coconut palms contrasting with the vivid scarlet of the hibiscus; luxuriant vegetation; pretty running streams and waterfalls; shadv streets and paths covered with foliage as an avenue; and the picturesque open houses, or fales {pronounced fa-lavs), of the natives dotted about the green sward, make an unforgettable picture. The people themselves are normally the hapniest and cheeriest souls, brichtly and cleanlv dressed; moving quietly and happilv throuch their easy lives, contented with little, easily amused; pleased merelv to be alive, and passionately fond of singing In the evenings the whole island resounds with the songs of little eroups-hvmns and simple melodiesvoices delichtfully true and harmonically blended. As the next item the studio orchestra will play to vou as an example of Samioan melody the niaintiff song of farewell which is as characteristic of Samoa as is Alohia-oe of Tawaii.