A.—4b

living in Samoa believe that most unsound conditions rule in these Islands, and that measures taken by the Administration are, and have been, oppressive and unprofitable, and have retarded the advancement and the happiness of the colony. The majority of the white residents believe that many of the ordinances issued by the Administration have been useless and oppressive." This petition, which covers in almost identical language the same grounds of attack so familiar to us on New Zealand's administration, was signed by five European residents, and the two signatories of non-German nationality were G. E. L. Westbrook and 0. F. Nelson, who are here to-day. Why, then, have you gentlemen so persistently endeavoured to glorify the former German administration, to the disparagement of New Zealand's government, when on your own testimony it was subject to the same defects and failings ? Do you think that line of conduct is honest or truthful 1 Just eleven years later a citizens' committee, with which most of the Europeans present were prominently associated, declined to meet the Hon. E. P. Lee during his first official visit to Samoa as Minister of External Affairs ; and in a letter, dated the sth July, 1921, and signed by sixty-six British nationals or half-castes, and sixty-three American, German, Chinese, Danish, French, Portuguese, Swiss, Norwegian, Russian, and Belgian nationals or half-castes, they gave their reasons, stating, amongst other things, that New Zealand's control of Samoa had been a hopeless failure, that the country was steadily drifting towards bankruptcy, and that the only solution of this lamentable state of affairs was to relieve New Zealand of the responsibility of government, which she had proved herself incapable to cope with. Mr. Lee replied, under date 19th August, 1921, entirely disproving every allegation and charge made in that letter, and in acknowledging it on the 30th of the same month, the late Mr. Charles Roberts said that it had been passed on to the signatories and that they would probably answer it at a later date. The Minister of External Affairs is still waiting for that answer. My predecessor, on that occasion, also met the Fono of Faipules in their Fono House at Mulinu'u, and received from them a petition, addressed to His Majesty the King, asking, for reasons set forth therein, that the mandate to administer Samoa should be taken from the New Zealand Government. We have it directly from the Faipules who were ostensibly concerned with the preparation and presentation of that petition that they were dupes and unwitting instruments of others, and that they realize they were then deceived into acting against the true interests of their people. On this occasion I, too, have received a petition, signed not only by the whole of the Faipules, but also by the two Fautuas, Malietoa Tanu and Tuimalealiifano, and, inter alia, they tell me, " Our villages are healthier and more beautiful places to live in because of regulations for sanitation and beautifying ; we have good roads and water-supplies ; plantations are prosperous ; the establishment of hospitals, dispensaries, and schools, and many other improvements clearly indicate the love of our Governor for us, and bis aim for the future prosperity of our country." Their unanimous and only request to me as Minister of External Affairs, representing the New Zealand Government, is " that some European merchants in Apia, together with some half-castes," who are endeavouring to foment dissatisfaction, and to cause disunion between the Samoan people, should be made to cease their interference. Thus does history repeat itself, because every record of Samoa tells the same sorry tale of European intrigue, and of the unfortunate Samoan Natives paying the penalty when the day of reckoning arrived. I give you my word that, so far as lies in my power, I do not propose to let history repeat itself in this latter respect. This brings me to what I regard as the'serious phase ofthe recent trouble—namely, the deliberate attempt of you members of the European committee not only to undermine the confidence of the Samoan people in the administration by their own legally and properly constituted Native leaders and authorities, but, even worse, to sow the seeds of discord and disunion amongst the Samoan people. It was my good fortune to reach Apia in time to witness the celebrations and sports in connection with His Majesty's birthday. I saw great throngs of healthy and obviously happy and contented Natives from all parts of the Territory. I could not help noticing a small, and, I repeat deliberately, a very small, section of the assembled Natives—many of whom were children who have not yet reached years of understanding —not only holding aloof from these joyous meetings of loyal demonstration and of friendly rivalry in sports and pastimes, but actually instigated to mar the harmony of the celebrations of His Majesty's birthday by a meeting of their own. I have every reason to believe that this interference was carried so far as to prevent eager and innocent children of some of the Native parents under your influence from joining their school or Fetu companions in the day's contests. I cannot too strongly condemn such conduct, and I am prepared to take the most drastic steps to stop it. I am satisfied from my investigations and from my own observations that the steps which have been taken by the Administration to invest the Native people, through the Fono of Faipules and other Native authorities, with power to deal with their own Native affairs are entirely in the best interests of the Samoan people, and that by this means, and by this means alone, will they be taught the principles and arts of government, so that in the years to come they may grow in knowledge and understanding, and take an increasing share ill the administration and control of their own Territory. lam equally satisfied that the attempts which have been made to undermine the faith of certain sections of the Natives in their own institutions have not been prompted by any regard for the real interests of the Natives; and also that any success which has attended these attempts has been partly due to misrepresentations, half-truths, and untruths, and partly to inducements of a more material nature. I speak plainly because I regard these efforts to disunite and upset a fine race like the Samoans as nothing less than criminal, and deserving only to be dealt with as a crime. When the well-being of the physical body is threatened with a sore, the surgeon's knife is

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