Administrator of Western

Samoa An Expert Or An Office- Holder?

LATEST reports from New Zealand and Samoa are to the effect that a well known gentleman of New Zealand is to be rewarded for his political and party work for the reigning powers in New Zealand by being appointed to what officialdom regards as the remunerative and easy job of Administrator of Western Samoa.

Another correspondent says that Judge Ayson, Resident Commissioner of Rarotonga, who has made a success of his governorship there, and whose name was mentioned as a likely successor to Sir Herbert Hart, “is not sufficiently well in with the official crowd in Welling ton,” and therefore is not likely to be appointed.

If this should prove to be a correct forecast, every friend of New Zealand and of Samoa will feel deep regret. The Adminstratorship in Samoa, connected as it is with a curious problem in native psychology, is one of the most difficult jobs in the Pacific, yet New Zealand has filled it repeatedly with men who, while worthy and well meaning gentlemen, were most definitely unfitted for the re sponsibility. Samoa does not want a complacent and unimaginative office holder —Samoa needs and must have a man with vision, and with positive quali ties. who will put an end to conditions which have existed for more than a score of years, and which are a reflection upon British Colonial administration.

If another wrong appointment is made it is probable that an agitation will com mence against New Zealand, which will not cease until the mandate is removed from that little country and placed with some other authority which can exercise it in a more creditable manner.