Administratorship Of

Samoa

It is reported from New Zealand, un officially but on good authority, that Mr.

James O’Brien, Labour member for West land and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Native Affairs, will shortly be appointed Administrator of Western Samoa. He was a member of the “Good will Mission” to Apia, in 1936.

The proposal has been sharply critic ised, hoth in the Dominion and in Samoa, on the grounds that Mr. O’Brien is with out any apparent qualifications and, at 62, is too old to fill such an important and difficult post.

The present Acting Administrator is Mr. A. C. Turnbull, who, since 1935, has carried on with conspicuous ability and tact.