Conditions in Samoa

Letter to the Editor.

OLD residents of Samoa hope that the new Government in New Zealand will regard the administration of Western Samoa as a national obligation rather than as an opportunity for allowing officials to glorify themselves.

It is believed that under new conditions all differences here can be amicably ad justed. There never was any need for warships or military police in Samoa. The late Administrator never was in close touch with the Samoans. There was much criticism, for instance, of the fact that he maintained at Vailima a party of Chinese household servants, whose wages presum ably went back to China. Why could he not have used local labour for this pur pose? Why should the Administrator have thought it necessary to maintain an Aide-de-camp—his own nephew, with the title of “Captain”—a position regarded as quite unnecessary?

The New Zealand Government at the beginning deported many of the German pioneers—men of real intelligence who were deeply interested in the development and progress of Samoa. Their places have never been filled.

The unemployment position among Europeans here is tragic. A few unem ployed ex-service men occasionally secure a few days’ work from the Public Works Department at a low rate of wages; and when they are paid their wages are subject to deductions of 20 per cent, or so, as in stalments against what they apparently owe the Administration for poll tax, school ing for their children, medical fees, etc. It is a pitiful sight to see ex-service men on the tops of Government buildings painting the high, steep roofs in the broiling tropi cal sun.

Our troubles are by no means incapable of solution. Let the new Government only make an inquiry, and put in charge of this territory a man of some common-sense and strength of character and much of the present rampant discontent will disappear.

I am, etc.,

Old Resident.

Apia, 16/12/1935.