Samoa

Administrator of Western Samoa Several Names Mentioned

THE appointment of an Administrator of Western Samoa to succeed Sir Herbert Hart, who recently retired, is ex pected to be made shortly by the Govern ment (said the “New Zealand Herald,” in October). More than half a dozen men have been mentioned as possibilities for the post, but it is understood the Govern ment’s choice will be made from a more limited field.

Perhaps the most likely candidate is Mr. H. F. Ayson, Resident Commissioner in the Cook Islands and a former Judge of the Native Land Court, who has had nearly 20 years’ experience in native ad ministration. He first went to the Islands in 1918, and four years later he was appointed Resident Commissioner, a posi tion in which ever since he has shown conspicuous ability.

In certain circles there is a feeling that the Government should send to Samoa a man who has not a more or less marked army affiliation and that the time has come for the appointment of one who has made a study of the problems of the Polynesian race.

Others who are stated to be possible candidates for the position are Mr. A. C.

Turnbull, secretary to the Administration, and at present Acting-Administrator, and Sir Charles Statham, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who has an nounced his intention of retiring from Parliament this year. The names of Mr.

J. H. Luxford, Chief Judge in Western Samoa, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., of Auckland, and Mr. C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., of Timaru, have also been mentioned.