A.—s

51

Status of German Property. We have been instructed to request that you kindly advise, if possible, what is the status of German property in Samoa at present. This question arises from the desire for purchase of properties now held by Germans, or sale of properties to Germans. Flag-raising day. Wo have been instructed to bring bofore you the request to select a day to be known as " Flag-raising Day," the first ceremony to be made impressive to both European and Native inhabitants, and kept as an annual holiday. Citizen's Committee. (Signed) C. V. Allom. E. A. Dobbie. B. I. Annandale. N. H. Macdonald. W. E. Clark. . G. Hay-Mackenzie. A. R. Coboroft. O. F. Nelson (Chairman). R, D. Croudace. J. T. Dunlop (Secretary). Hon. Sir James Allen (Minister of External Affairs) ; Gentlemen, we are here to receive the committee and to see' any of the public who like to attend to-day. We are very grateful to the eommifctee, who have put in concrete form in the pamphlet which has been distributed to members of Parliament the matters they wish to place before us. My intention is to ask members of Parliament, if they so desire, to put questions to you to elucidate any point about which they may be in doubt and want further information. Before doing so, however, I think it will be right to ask you whether you have anything further to say, either on the subjects mentioned in the pamphlet or on any other subject which you may deem it desirable to place before us, so that we may go away with the fullest information and with a complete knowledge of your mind, as far as it is possible to ascertain that. I should like to be informed by some one who is able to tell me what the position is with regard to the pamphlet. I understand that the articles have been prepared by individuals. I understand also that the separate articles were not submitted to the committee —at least, 1 have heard so—and I want your assurance whether each member of the committee had a full knowledge of each article when he signed the pamphlet. It is rather important for me to know whether the individuals who signed the pamphlet knew exactly what they were putting their signatures to. I want to know, therefore, whether the pamphlet was considered by the committee —whether it was read to the committee. Before Igo any further perhaps you would be kind enough to give me an answer to that question. Mr. 0. F. Nelson : In reply to the question, I have pleasure in saying that a special meeting of the committee was held to consider each and every one of these papers that were prepared by the individual members. The members of the committee in signing this pamphlet knew what they were signing, and agreed with everything that is said in it. Rev. W. E. Clarke : I am responsible for the paper that is written on the subject of education. 1 think it only fair to say that at the first meeting of the committee I had to inform the members of that committee that although I had been appointed by the citizens' meeting, yet I was not in sympathy with the resolution that was passed at that meeting. The members of the London Missionary Society are really in favour of the view outlined by the Director of Education, as far as we understand its details. I therefore stated that if it was understood that the views of the committee were to be endorsed by every member it would be impossible for me to sit among them. I suggested that in such case it would be desirable to nominate another member of the committee, and 1 would cheerfully withdraw. The committee replied that they wished to obtain the fullest possible information on the matter of education; they recognized the different point of view of the London Missionary Society, and they were quite pleased to have one of its representatives sit among them and to make that difference known. That accounts for the character of the paper. You will observe that the first portion of that paper represents the views of the Citizens' Committee, and there is an addendum to that which represents the views of our London Missionary Society. 1 have signed the paper in order that that might be quite unmistakable on the part of members of the party. Hon. Sir James Allen : Might 1 ask you whether in signing the pamphlet you endorsed all the other articles in it? I ask you and other members of the committee, Do you endorse all that it contains? Rev. Mr. Clarke ; I am bound to admit that on the prohibition question the members of the London Missionary Society are altogether in favour of prohibition. This committee was nominated with a view to each of us dealing with the subject on which we wrote an article. Therefore, while the document was signed by myself, I cannot, on behalf of the London Missionary Society, associate myself with the views expressed on the subject of prohibition. I think that, in view of the growing

Year. Import Duty. LI censes. 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 (duty altered).. 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 £ s, d. 3,892 16 8 4,098 4 5 4,521 2 8 £ s. d. 4,051 12 0 4,601 19 3 3,418 5 9 3,309 19 11 3,594 18 11 4,766 1 8 281 10 0 291 10 0 190 10 0 151 10 0 136 10 0 129 10 0