Last German Governor of

Dr. Schultz Dead

Last German Governor of Samoa

Dr. Erich Schultz-Werth, The

last German Governor of Western Samoa, which was taken over by the New Zealand Administration from the Ger mans in 1914, died on June 25.

Dr. Schultz’s last act as governor is described by N. A. Rowe in the book, “Samoa Under the Sailing Gods”: “Before the landing of the military forces, Dr. Schultz called the natives to gether, and told them that the quarrel was not theirs, but between Germany and Britain, and they were to take no part.

Some of had suggested opposing the occupation. There was no resistance by the Germans.”

In 1899, at the age of 29, Dr. Schultz was appointed judge at Dar-es-Salaam. in German West Africa; then he spent a year in the German Colonial Office; and in 1901 he was sent as judge to Samoa to assist Dr. Solf, who at that time combined the office of Governor with that of Chief Justice. In 1904 Dr. Solf was relieved of the Chief Justiceship, and Dr. Schultz succeeded him. On Dr. Solf’s retirement, Dr. Schultz was appointed Governor, and was in that position when the New Zea land Expeditionary Force took possession.

He was interned in New Zealand during the war.

Dr. Schultz was well known in the Cen tral Pacific, as the result of 10 years’ resi dence in the South Seas, and he was esteemed by men of all nationalities.