Depressed Politics

In Samoa

OINCE the return from Wellington to Apia of the Nelson deputation, with the depressing news that the New Zealand Government had not received very favourably the various demands of the Mau party, a kind of blight has fallen upon the politics of Western Samoa.

Reading between the lines, it would appear as if the New Zealand Govern ment made it very clear to the Nelson clique that New Zealand is a little tired of the restlessness and greediness of the Mau party, and that the Mau, as a result, has felt it advis able to remain quiet for a while.

The Mau has no reason to complain, however. It has been given amazing concessions by the New Zealand Gov ernment—namely, the formal recogni tion of Mr. Nelson and of the influence of the various members of his family; a considerable increase in the number of Mau-controlled officials in the per sonnel of the Administration; the re moval of the Chinese labourers from Samoa and the consequent embarrass ment of the European planters; and a variety of other things.

Of course, extremism in politics always produces its natural reaction; and the result in Western Samoa has been the sharp revival of the Malo (or Anti-Mau) party, which is moderate in its demands, reasonable in its policy and loyal in its allegiance, and there is every indication that the Malo party now is just as strong numerically, and more influential in character, than the organ isation dominated by Mr. Nelson and his son-in-law, Tamasese. . One extraordinary feature of the Samoan situation is that Mr. A. C.

Turnbull is still kept there by the New Zealand Government in the position of

acting-Administrator—a status that he now has held for over three years. It is an outrageous arrangement,’ unfair to Mr. Turnbull, and embarrassing to Samoa, and the New Zealand Govern ment has made no attempt either to ex plain it or to apologise for it.

It was reported in Wellington, in February, on very good authority, that the New Zealand Government proposed to send Mr. O’Brien, M.P., to Samoa as Administrator. But if there was any truth in the report, it would appear that the Government was scared off the plan by the very strong expressions of indignation at the prospect of such a blatant “political” appointment.

There was an interesting incident in, Samoa early in April when, at a com plimentary social tendered to the Nel son delegation by members of the Samoan Labour party, the President, Mr. Amatu Stowers, said: “The local born Labour Party differs only in name from the Mau, as the ideals and ob jects of each are identical”.

The flower horse which surmounted the prize winning float in the recent Flower Carnival at Papeete, and the young people who represented Jeanne d’Arc, France, and Tahiti.