European-Samoans
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Reasonable Demand For Recognition
From Our Own Correspondent
Apia, Jan. 20.
SHARP criticism of the policy of the New Zealand Government in ap pointing young men from the New Zea land public service to fill vacancies in the public service in Samoa, was heard at the annual general meeting of the United Progressive Party—a semi-poli tical organisation.
It was stated that there were a num ber of positions in the administrative service in Samoa which could be quite adequately filled by young Euronesian men and women—and that, incidentally, if such a practice were followed, a num ber of young New Zealand men of mili tary age would be released for service abroad. It was pointed out also that if Euronesians were employed they would not expect the same salary that seemed to be paid, as a matter of course, to men transferred from New Zealand.
Editorial Note
There is reason and justice in the claims made on behalf of the young Euronesians of Samoa. They, for the most part, are of mixed European and Samoan parentage; and in intelligence, industry and appearance they compare quite favourably with Europeans. There are few positions in the Samoan ad ministrative service which they are not competent to mi; and, as Samoa is their own country, they have every justifica tion for asking that as many public ser vice positions as possible are made avail able to them.
This claim has been made with in creasing urgency by the Euronesian com munity of Western Samoa, for several years, but it has been blandly ignored by the New Zealand Administration.
The New Zealand Administration, in fact, has gone further than this in dis criminating against the Euronesian people.
One of the deplorable things in social life in Samoa, and a fact which has built up a remarkable body of hatred of New Zealand, is the instruction given by the New Zealand bureaucrats to the young men whom it sends to Samoa, that they shall not form any close social relationship with the Euronesian people.
Despite this, a number of New Zealand ers have married the pretty and clever girls of European-Samoan descent.