Samoan Administrator.

Why This Failure To Make An Appointment?

Administratorship of Western * Samoa still is vacant. Mr. A. C.

Turnbull, secretary of the Administra tion, still is Acting-Administrator a situation that, extraordinary as it may appear, has endured since General Hart retired nearly two years ago.

The N.Z. Labour Government, when it came into office, rightly decided to leave the position vacant until it had examined the whole situation. The examination was made last year and, it wouid seem, the Government did not like what it found. It probably decided, and with reason, that the administration of West ern Samoa since 1921 has not reflected any credit on New Zealand, and it has been giving earnest consideration to the future of Western Samoa. Of what use is Samoa to New Zealand, anyway?

These possibilities, and the fact that Mr. Savage, N.Z. Prime Minister, has gone off to London and the Imperial Con ference without having appointed an Ad ministrator to Samoa, give colour to the belief held in some quarters that at the Imperial Conference the feasibility of transferring Samoa from New Zealand to British Administration will be con sidered.

Such a transfer would appear right and logical, and it probably would solve a problem that otherwise seems insoluble.

The unfortunate victim of all this is Mr. Turnbull, Acting-Administrator. On length of service, personal merit and general suitableness, he should have been appointed Administrator long ago. He simply is the victim of circumstances.

It is to be hoped that the N.Z. Govern ment will suitably recognise his good record, and his remarkable and consis tent loyalty to the Government under conditions of extraordinary difficulty.