Mr. Powles' Record

In W. Samoa

Most people who know Western Samoa and its High Commis sioner, Mr. G. R. Powles, CMG, hope there is truth in reports in NZ newspapers, that Mr.

Powles is slated for a New Zea land diplomatic post abroad. He has earned a good reward; and he had diplomatic experience abroad in the ’Forties.

It is nearly nine years since Mr. Powles was put in charge in Samoa. Apart from the in evitable discomfort of adminis tration life in "the Ireland of the Pacific” —a title earned Long ago by the politically restless country—Western Samoa has been faced for some time with tough economic problems.

Mr. Powles has been given the task in recent years of explain ing the very simple facts of national life to the new nation.

It has not been an easy task. In fact, it has called for a high degree of tact, diplomacy, and patience.

In the first couple of decades after World War I, New Zea land’s administrative record in Western Samoa was shocking— she tried to govern a high spirited people through gentle men whose only qualification was a World War I military title. y The two men who, by patience and hard work, plus a capacity for inducing the right type of Samoan to accept the right kind of responsibility, changed NZ’s record from discredit to credit, were Alfred Turnbull (eight years) and G. R. Powles (nine years).

Mr. Powles deserves a suit able reward for distinguished service.