Accepted
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
Euronesians Are Not Accepted Recruiting in Western Samoa
From Our Own Correspondent
Apia, Feb. 11.
TO-DATE, quite a number of European volunteers have enlisted in the Forces, in answer to tne appeal from the Samoan Administration. How ever, owing to a clause of the recruiting requirements, which states that recruits must be “full-blooded whites *nd up to, but not including, persons of half-Poly nesian blood”, the majority of Euronesians here, sons of British fathers and Samoan mothers, are not eligible for service overseas.
Strong objection has been voiced against this discrimination, which is felt to be an undeserved slight on a patriotic population eager to do its share in the cause of the Empire. The position now is that out of the whole of the permanent local Defence Force only one man would be eligible to serve overseas!
A petition, supported by practically all residents of Samoa, will shortly be for warded to the NZ Prime Minister, asking for a modification of the recruiting re gulations. It will be pointed out that no such discrimination was made during last war; that New Zealand accepts full blooded Maoris, Niueans, Tongans and Rarotongans; and that Euronesians, in eligible in Samoa, are accepted and are serving with distinction in New Zealand and overseas.