Samoa Waits!

New Administrator and New Policy Expected

PRIVATE letters from Samoa indicate that Europeans and natives in the territory are in a twitter of excitement concerning developments likely to follow the appearance in office of the new Labour Government in New Zealand.

It is anticipated that a new Adminis trator will be appointed; that there will be a. far-reaching revision of Samoan laws and conditions; and that the banish ment. of the leader of the Samoan nation alists. Mr. O. F. Nelson, will be revoked and that gentleman allowed to return to Samoa- Several weeks hawe passed, however, and no appointment of a new Adminis trator has been announced; so it is appar ent that the N.Z. Government is not going to act precipitately. This is to the good —it would be a thousand nities if the cry ing needs of this territory were again overlooked and some political favourite appointed.

It was reported that a well-known Labour leader, who visited Samoa re cently as a tourist, was to be Adminis trator. This would have been a calamit ous thing—the job calls for expert know ledge of tropical conditions and wide ex perience in administration. The best thing that could happen would be the re tention in office of the present Acting- Administrator, Mr. A. C. Turnbull; or, al ternatively, the appointment of Judge H.

F. Ayson—who now, perhaps significantly, is on an official visit to New Zealand from the Cook Islands.

It was also reported in Apia in Janu ary that Mr, Nelson was on his way back, and Mau enthusiasts were collecting money to give “Taisi” a fitting welcome.

In this direction, also, the new Govern ment would be wise to hasten slowly. Mr.

Nelson has not had altogether a fair deal from N.Z. officialdom; but, on the other hand, it would be a calamity hurriedly to turn over Samoa to his keeping. The N.Z, Government, before according him special privileges, would be wise to ascer tain first the extent to which his friend ship and goodwill can be depended upon.

Samoa is emerging satisfactorily from the economic depression, and the thing that is vital now is an administrative policy that will assist the planters, make more virgin land available to settlers on reasonable terms and conditions, provide suitable employment for the large num ber of unemployed in Samoa, and secure, once and for all, a satisfactory settlement of the Mau difficulties. The New Zealand Government now has an opportunity of achieving these things, with one or two wise acts.