A.—s

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Samoan had a certain number of trees, and by this means he secured his livelihood and fully used his independence." The words " The reason for the lazy propensities of the Samoans " were struck out, and altered to " the disinclination of the Samoans to undertake outside work." Then, a little lower down this sentence was censored out: "The Samoans did not care what rule they were under, as they were just as well satisfied under the Germans as they were now." That was censored out. Hon. Members : Quite right, too. Mr. Dobbie : I quite agree with that. I have here another article, an historical article, which appeared in the Sa.moa Times of the 6th December. A portion—about a column of the Samoa Times —was censored out; but the peculiar part is this: this particular story had appeared in consular reports which had been made to the different countries concerned, and they had appeared in a book written by Mr. Trood, and photographs of this particular incident are all over this little town. As I say, it was an historical article on Old Apia, and this is the part that was censored out : — Old Charlie Netzler used to say that Governments were good for little else but to collect taxes. In the good old days they got along without thorn just as well. " What about law and order, Charlie ? " " Well, you see," was his usual reply, "if anybody went too far, there was always plenty among the rest of us to pull him up." Thus it happened, forty-two years or thereabouts ago, when a murder was committed, the infuriated mob meted out stern justice to the perpetrator by hanging him from a coconut-tree. The murderer had been conveyed by order of the Consuls on board a schooner in the harbour, ostensibly to be tried in California, he being an American citizen. But the enraged citizens were anxious to make sure of his fate. That same night, about 7 o'clock, they put off in boats to the ship and brought the culprit ashore. Meanwhile preparations for his execution were proceeding apace. The coconut-tree selected for the purpose was located opposite the Central Hotel, on the vacant, plot a few feet from Tattersalfs rails. A block was fixed to this tree about 60 ft. from the ground. When all was ready the culprit, who had been under surveillance in an outhouse across the way, was brought forth. This was about 8 o'clock, half an hour after he had been brought ashore. Barrels of tar had been ignited in the vicinity of the coconut-tree, and there was a crowd of people present, several hundred strong. When the man arrived, blindfolded, at the foot of the tree, the noose (with two monstrous knots in it) was quickly adjusted around his neck, and at a given signal the score or more persons holding the rope dashed forward in the direction of the beach, the man being jerked off his feet and run to the top of the tree with lightning-like rapidity. Needless to add, death was correspondingly swift. The body remained suspended till the following morning, when a photograph was taken. Copies of the photograph are still in existence. Among the spectators, how many survive ? Only two that we hear of—Harry Ducker, now resident in Falelatai, and Manuel Silva. Manuel was more than a spectator, as he was one of the long queue who dragged at the rope. That was censored out —why, I cannot say. Now, here is another article, taken from the Auckland Star. It referred to Samoan affairs, and this part was censored out : — An Administrator whose main qualification for the post is the knowledge gained in his profession is not the man to undertake the work of reconstruction that is ahead in Samoa. Dr. Solf, who established the system of German Government in Samoa after the partition of the islands in 1898, was a capable official who had had some years' experience in the Group in charge of Oorman interests. He was familiar with Native problems and thoroughly awake to the needs of the Territory. We are afraid that, however capable an official Colonel Tate may be in his own particular sphere, he lacks the knowledge that, Dr. Solf had when he started out on his task. Mr. Young : What is the date of that publication in the Auckland Star? —l cannot supply that offhand. I. should say it would be some time in December last. Have you any of your own writings which have been censored? —Yes. The only editorial of mine that was censored was a criticism in regard to the seventy-one police, in the last paragraph of which I stated that the community was out of sympathy with the Administration. This is an editorial of the 20th December, which did not appear at all owing to the Censor : — Samoa's Constabulary. The appointment of seventy-one men for the Samoan Constabulary has given considerable food for thought in the public mind. It is difficult to understand why such a large force has been engaged. Residents of long standing and high reputation are amazed and are asking how far Samoa can stand such an expense, which at the very least must cost the country £30,000 a year. At, first when it was noised about that such a large Police Force was to be engaged it was considered a baseless rumour, but as the truth dawned and became generally known, resentment was keen. The expense to the country for such a force represents £1 per head of the total population. In former times, before the occupation, only three Europeans, assisted by Native police, were found necessary to police Samoa. The appointment of seventy-one men would infer that there is a considerable amount of crime in Samoa. But that is not the case. Wo think the police records would show that Samoa stands, in comparison with other countries, pre-eminent in its respect for law and order, hence the surprise and resentment for engaging such a force. One of the most painful sights is to note the difficulty the soldiers of the garrison have to fill in their time. One of their chief complaints is that they have not enough to do. They themselves, with the community, wonder why they have been kept here so long. All the more wonder is expressed at the military being replaced by a Civil force equally as strong. We have been at pains to interview old residents, whose views on such a matter cannot be denied. Without exception the step has been decried as being wholly unnecessary and unjustifiable. It is considered a mistake. Tho enrolment of police to such a number compares with Auckland City, with a population of 100,000, where a force of only seventy to eighty police is required. In Fiji under twenty European police are engaged, while in Tonga, over a population of 23,000, there are only twenty Native police. When it is considered that the estimates for Samoa for 1919-20 show a revenue of £80,125 and an expenditure of £80,11.4, one is at a loss to know where the £30,000 is to come from. Penetrating the matter dispassionately, we regard, in common with the general community, that the appointment of seventy-one police is a blunder which it is particularly difficult to reconcile. It suggests the hope that the time is not far off when a disfranchised community The remainder of the proof was kept, I believe, by the Administration. Hon. Mr. Carnchoss : In one of the articles you read there was a reference to the fact that you required here as Administrator " a man who knew a coconut from a banana." Do you know what the personal reference was that was intended to be conveyed in that? —I can guess at it.