Future Of Western Samoa

THE decision of the Samoan Mau adherents—representing a very large proportion of the native population—to refrain from taking any part in the welcome to Prince Henry directs public attention again to the relationship between New Zealand and Western Samoa.

The Mau people appear to have made their position quite clear. They are not at all unfriendly to Great Britain, or to members of the British Royal Family: but in no circumstances will they associate themselves officially with the Administration which New Zealand, by virtue of its Geneva Mandate, has set up to govern Samoa. So, while officialdom and the pro-Administration Samoans entertained Prince Henry in the usual way, the Mau section of the native community was ostentatiously absent.

We had hoped that the retiring Administrator, General Hart, had succeeded in breaking down Mau antagonism, and persuading the Samoan nationalists to forget at least some part of their bitter grievances, but the latest incident shows that the Mau memory is long and tena-

cious, and that General Hart’s patience and goodwill have done little to eradicate the effects of the ignorance and stupidity of the officials who preceded him. The Samoans, more than any other race in the Pacific —and perhaps in the world —are controlled by tradition and ceremony; and apparently they never will forgive New Zealand for sending to them, as their governors, heavy-footed, fat-headed soldiers who trampled on their cherished institutions, ignored their forms of good manners and treated them as if they were African “niggers.”

Those words are not too strong. We heard, only recently, of how an Eminent Personage from N.Z., visiting Samoa, tried to make himself popular with the natives. In a public address, he chose the subject of pigs. “When I am at home I am a breeder of pigs,” said the well meaning gentleman. This, in Samoan ears, was bad enough; but the unfortu nate interpreter did not hear clearly, and he rendered it: “When I am at home I am a feeder of pigs!” And then, per haps, the Eminent Personage wondered

why he did not receive from the Samoans that measure of respect that ordinarily is his due.

There have been scores of such incidents. New Zealand, perhaps, has been unfortunate in that she could not pro duce, for Samoa, a Sir Hubert Murray, with his instinctive understanding of the psychology of native races. But New Zealand did not try very hard. A large proportion of the horde of officials sent to Samoa between 1920 and 1930 were men without any qualification for tropi cal administration—and, in many cases, they were just callous, lazy billet-seekers, without any sense of responsibility to wards either New Zealand or the Samoans. As a matter of fact, New Zealand had no personnel trained for this kind of tropical administration.

Some foolish old man, in Westminster probably, decided that a country which could govern the Maoris and the Cook Islanders should be able to control the Samoans. It was a tragic error.

And what now? The Mau, despite all officially-inspired reports to the con trary, remains unfriendly and aloof. The Administrator, who has done his honest best with an impossible situation, is re tiring to N.Z.; and it is proposed to

appoint in his place only a senior official, to act as Commissioner. The country’s finances, owing to the long depression, are not in a good condition, and probably will call again for heavy subsidies from Wellington. Is the time not opportune to suggest that the Mandate for the Government of Samoa be transferred from New Zealand to the British Colonial Office?

A few N.Z. politicians would babble, and some N.Z. newspapers would squawk; but otherwise the rearrangement would please every one —the Samoans most of all. The Samoan Administration then would automatically come under the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, at Suva. From the Samoan point of view, Suva is a far more convenient place than Wellington. The High Com missioner already is responsible for the government of Fiji, Solomons, Tonga, Gilbert and Ellice, and New Hebrides, and has at his command a large and ex perienced staff trained in the best tradi tions of the British Colonial Office.

Samoans, temperamental and restless, are not people easy to govern. The High Commissioner at Suva probably would handle the problem successfully.

At first glance, it might appear that the severance of the official connection with N.Z. would react disastrously upon Samoa’s trade; because N.Z., during the years when copra and cocoa were in the doldrums, helped Samoa by buying Samoan bananas to the value of between £20,000 and £40,000 per annum. But the total annual value of Samoa’s exports is between £175,000 and £350,000 per annum, and as copra and cocoa are now recovering, the banana trade is of minor importance. New Zealand sells Samoa goods of the value of about £50,000 an nually, so it is likely that that trade would continue, whatever the form of government.

It is interesting to note, from the last official report, that General Hart has made Samoa self-supporting. Prior to his administration, there was a recurring annual deficit, provided for by an annual subsidy from N.Z. of between £20,000 and £40,000. The heavy sacrifices im posed upon the people in order to achieve a balanced budget in such difficult times have not added anything to the popu larity of New Zealanders in Samoa.

Into any consideration of the future of Samoa must come the question of the return of the German colonies. The Germans loved Samoa, and they may hope that some day they will re-occupy the Territory. From a practical point of view, that is very unlikely. If there is

to be a return of German colonies, the restoration probably will be made in Africa, where administration and defence are fairly easy, and not in the Pacific, where it is most difficult to adequately maintain and protect small territories, at the end of lines of communication that stretch right across the world.

FIGURE ON LEFT: Hullo! I’m the Islands Girl as the writers and illustrators depict her. Who are you?

DITTO ON RIGHT: Oh, I’m the Islands Girl as she is!