In The Grip Of

The Mau

Amusing Disclosures In W. Samoa

TTHERE has been an amusing news * paper war in Western Samoa.

A Mr. F. Godinet was active in form ing ‘‘the Labour Party of Western Samoa,” which came hurriedly into exis tence when it was known that the N.Z.

Labour Government was to send a “good will mission.” Its banner was very pro minent at the mission’s official landing.

Some time ago, Mr. Godinet wrote to a Mr. Slipper, in Auckland, describing the new conditions created in Samoa by the “goodwill mission.” Mr. Slipper un expectedly sent the letter to the Prime Minister, and the letter was published in a Labour journal. It was copied into the Western Samoa Mail, on January 9, and caused a sensation. Mr. Godinet, inter alia, said: “Mr. Turnbull, the Acting-Administrator, is now referring everything to the Mau.”

“Yesterday Tamasese and Ainu’u (representing Mau) commenced overseeing the official inspec tion of export bananas on the wharf. They were not there so much to inspect the bananas as to see if Mr. Newton, agricultural inspector, was doing his job rightly.”

“I believe the police department will be re organised again and that the European police, including the present inspector, will be dispensed with and their places filled with Samoans.”

“The Chinese labour question does upset the planters, and they come to us (Labour Party) and the Mau asking for support . . . These damned planters have been running the country long enough.”

“May God bless Mr. Savage and his (Labour) Party. May God spare their lives so that they may remain rulers of N.Z. for the rest of their lifetime.”

The reference to the planters naturally stirred up the Planters’ Association, and the secretary (Mr. A. M. Gurau) wrote to the Samoa Mail of January 16, and described Mr. Godinet’s letter as “an astounding product of an uneducated and mischievous mind,” and a “tissue of malicious lies.” Mr. Gurau declared that his Association never at any time sought the support of the Mau or the Labour Party. He described what “the damned planters” have done for Western Samoa; and he referred to Mr. Godinet and his friends as a “handful of trouble mongers.”

On January 23, Mr. Godinet, in a long letter, demanded public apologies from Mr. Gurau, the Samoa Mail, and the Planters’ Association, otherwise he would take legal proceedings for libel.

The reply of the persons concerned was “Go your hardest!” or words to that effect.